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In this study, a green method was employed for dyeing silk and cotton fabrics using extracts from Beta vulgaris peels as a colorant, pomegranate rind as a bio-mordant, and microwave-assisted extraction as a green extraction technique. The dyeing process was optimized employing response surface methodology and characterization of the dyed fabric was conducted using FTIR, SEM, color strength, and fastness properties. The optimized conditions for dyeing were a solvent-to-extract ratio of 10 ml/g, temperature 70°C, and pH 6. The values of K/S calculated under optimal conditions were 2.565 for cotton fabric and 3.928 for silk fabric, with good fastness properties ranging from 4-5. Better fastness properties were obtained at low pH and a high solvent-to-solid ratio. FTIR confirmed the different functional groups including prominent peaks appearing at 1600–1700, 1546, and 1200–1300 cm −1 for Amide-I, amide-II, and amide-III functional groups in silk and 3271–3332 cm −1 (OH stretching), 2851–2915 cm −1 (C–H stretching) for cotton fabric. SEM analysis showed the characteristics of the fabric surface before and after the adsorption of the dye components. The current study revealed selected bio-waste as a new and cheaper source of coloring material. Natural dye obtained from different waste materials can be exploited as a dyeing tool for different fabrics on an industrial scale, providing a viable green alternative to hazardous synthetic colorants.

Summary: In the present study, bimetallic oxides comprising nickel (Ni) and cobalt (Co) were synthesized using a facile hydrothermal method in the presence of CTAB and L-lysine. Their efficacy in catalyzing hydrogen production under alkaline conditions was assessed. Structural, vibrational, and morphological characteristics were analyzed utilizing X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques. The SEM images revealed a needle-like shape which is due to the surfactant addition. The NiCo oxides exhibited the lowest onset potential of 83 mV for HER and 130 mV for OER under standard conditions. The catalysts needed a potential of 286 and 450 mV to attain a current density of 50 mA/cm2 along with Tafel slope values of 119 and 332 mV/dec for HER and OER, respectively. These results suggested that L-lysine as a surfactant is highly effective in the fabrication of NiCo bimetal oxides for electrolytic water splitting applications.

This research examined the effectiveness and feasibility of utilizing ultraviolet (UV) assisted photo-catalysis to treat wastewater effluents from textile production containing reactive blue 250 (RB 250) dye. Molecular oxygen and active species like O2•−, HO2•, H2O2 and •OH play crucial roles in the degradation process. Additionally, the degradation of dyes is influenced by several factors, including dye concentration, duration of UV irradiation, pH levels, concentration of H2O2, and the catalyst. The concentration of H2O2 and catalyst dose for the decolorization was studied at 0.6 mL and 0.5 g respectively. The discoloration was higher at low dye concentration, high H2O2 concentration, acidic conditions and high catalyst concentration. The maximum degradation (97 %) of RB 250 dye was obtained in the presence of zinc oxide nanoparticles within 90 min. The extent of decolorization of the dye was determined by UV–Vis spectroscopy. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was employed to analyze the changes in functionalities after degradation. The disappearance of characteristic peaks associated with specific groups within the dye molecule confirmed the extensive degradation of RB 250 dye. LCMS analysis was conducted to examine the intermediates and a mechanistic degradation pathway was subsequently proposed. The cytotoxicity of the irradiated dye samples was evaluated through a hemolytic test both pre and post-treatment. The findings suggest that the UV/H2O2/ZnO treatment represents a promising approach for effectively degrading RB 250 dye.

This study reports the comparative evaluation of yield, physico-chemical composition and biological attributes (antioxidant activity, antimicrobial activity, biofilm inhibition and hemolytic activity) of peppermint (Mentha piperita L.) essential oil (EO) obtained by hydro-distillation (HD) and supercritical fluid (CO2) extraction (SCFE) methods. The yield (%) of EO obtained by HD (0.20 %) was significantly (p

In this study, nickel manganite (NiMn2O4) nanoparticles were prepared using a hydrothermal method and examined its potential as a photocatalyst for the Acid Green 25 (AG-25) dye degradation. The nanoparticles were subjected to structural analysis using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and morphological analysis using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The study examined the kinetics and thermodynamics of degradation processes that are catalyzed by photocatalysis. To ascertain their effect on dye degradation, several parameters, such as catalyst dose, H2O2 concentration, and temperature, were investigated. With a temperature of 315 K in a pseudo-first-order kinetic reaction, a 0.3 M H2O2 concentration, 0.05 mg/mL catalyst dose, and a promising removal efficiency of 96 % was achieved by the NiMn2O4 NPs in 40 min. Thermodynamic analysis revealed the spontaneous and entropy-driven nature of catalytic degradation, progressing favorably at elevated temperatures. Additionally, the NiMn2O4 NPs were applied as a fuel additive to analyze its influence on combustion and the physical characteristics of the modified fuel. The modified fuel demonstrated exceptional catalytic efficiency, emphasizing the potential of the NiMn2O4 NPs as an effective additive.

This study focuses on the investigation of the significance of polymers in drug delivery approaches. The carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and dextrin-based hydrogel membrane were prepared and employed for the sustained release of third-generation oral antibiotic (cefixime). Different proportions of CMC, PVA and dextrin were blended and hydrogel membranes were fabricated via solvent casting method. The prepared membrane was characterized by FTIR, SEM, UV-visible, TGA and swelling analysis. Cefixime drug was incorporated in the CMC/PVA/dextrin matrix and drug release was investigated. The sustained release of the tested drug (cefixime) was investigated and the drug was released in 120 min in the phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) solution. The antibacterial activity of the prepared membrane was promising against Proteus vulgaris , salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis strains. The swelling capabilities, thermal stability and non-toxic nature of the prepared CMC/PVA/dextrin membrane could have potential applications for cefixime drug in delivery in a controlled way for the treatment of infectious diseases.

Ceftriaxone sodium belongs to the third-generation cephalosporin group and is used intramuscular and intravenous route as a broad-spectrum antibiotic. This research aims to prepare biocompatible hydrogels for targeted delivery of ceftriaxone sodium by parental route. Different proportions of polymers (natural and synthetic) in the presence of cross-linker were synthesized by solvent casting method. Ceftriaxone sodium was loaded in hydrogels in different concentrations and its drug release behavior was evaluated along with swelling and biodegradation analysis. The characterization of hydrogel was done by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) to analyze surface morphology and functional groups involved in the formation of dextrin/Na-alginate/PVA hydrogels loaded with the drug. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was confirmed by thermal stability and degradation pattern of loaded and unloaded hydrogels. The drug-loaded samples presented promising antimicrobial activity against S. aureus and P. multocida and their cytotoxic nature was also studied. Drug release analysis using simulated intestinal fluid (SIF) and phosphate buffer saline(PBS) for the circulatory system shows the consistent release of the drug. The findings unveiled the development of a biocompatible and innovative hydrogel, which has potential advantages for biomedical application, particularly in enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of ceftriaxone sodium drug.

Dyes are well known major pollutants in wastewater discharged by various textile industries which are toxic to human beings and aquatic life. It is necessary to remove these colorants from water with low-cost yet effective method by which these pollutants can be removed from the water bodies. Current study has been designed to develop cost-effective material for the removal of dyes in wastewater along with the application of composite to inhibit the growth of Gram negative (GN) and Gram positive (GP) bacterium. Nanocomposite (Ag-NiO2@PVA) of silver and nickel was synthesized by the chemical reduction method and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) was used as a stabilizing medium. Nanocomposite (NC) was characterized employing different techniques including XRD, SEM, and FTIR which not only confirmed its synthesis but also provided their structure and morphology. The hexagonal close packed nanocomposite was tested for the catalytic degradation of different azo and anthraquinone dyes including methylene blue (MB), methyl orange (MO) and eosin yellow (EY). The degradation of MO, MB and EY was recorded in 20, 16 and 20 min with percentage removal 89.26, 95.88 and 96.56 % respectively. Antibacterial potential of the nanocomposite was assessed against different GN and GP bacterial strains namely Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli and the as-synthesized Ag-NiO2@PVA exhibited strong zone of inhibition against all types of bacterial strains mentioned herein. Nanocomposite was recovered and analyzed after dye degradation as well as the antibacterial studies have confirmed stability and recyclability of the nanocomposite. Results of the current study strongly recommend the composite for wastewater treatment applications i.e., removal of different dyes and pathogens. Silver and nickel based nanocomposite can be synthesized and modified followed by the stabilization with PVA for different applications in material sciences.

Electrocatalytic water splitting is regarded as a promising approach to produce hydrogen, which is a clean and renewable fuel. The process is mainly constrained due to the sluggish proton-coupled four-electrode transfer process at the anode for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) with high overpotential requirement. Herein this work, we used a one-step hydrothermal method for the in-situ synthesis of CoSe nanoparticles over the surface of carbon nanotube-based fiber (CNTs fiber) and utilized it as a bifunctional electrocatalyst for the electrochemical water splitting process. Surface-modified fiber showed excellent performance towards OER with a low overpotential (η10 = 414 mV) and Tafel slope (77 mVdec−1). We also exploited the same material as cathode, which exhibited an excellent hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) at the counterpart with improved catalytic performance as compared to bare CNTs materials. During the HER process in the cathodic potential region, the electrocatalyst displayed a current density of 10 mAcm−2 at an overpotential of 496 mV. Furthermore, the electrocatalyst exhibited excellent performance during the testing for the overall water splitting. The outcomes reveal that the fabricated electrode can be potentially applied as an efficient and flexible electrode to derive the hydrogen as fuels during the overall electrochemical water splitting reaction.

A facile green synthesis route was employed for the fabrication of Ag–Zn doped TiO2 nano-catalyst and utilized for the remediation of dyes. Nicotiana tabacum leaves extract was used to prepare the Ag–Zn doped TiO2 nano-catalyst by utilizing TiO2 as precursor and AgNO3, ZnNO3 as doping agents. A strong UV–Vis spectra peak confirmed the Ag–Zn doped TiO2 formation. Furior transformed infrared spectroscopy analysis revealed the role of phenolics in the N. tabacum leaves extract for the formation of Ag–Zn-doped TiO2 nano-catalyst. Moreover, Ag–Zn doped TiO2 nano-catalyst formation was confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis, which reveals the cubic and tetragonal geometries with average size of 5.66 nm. The scanning electron microscopy analysis also confirmed the poly-morphological structure of prepared Ag–Zn doped TiO2 nano-catalyst. The nano-catalyst was used for the remediation of dyes and conditions were optimized for maximum removal of dyes using NaBH4 reducing agent. The catalytic activity results revealed that Ag–Zn doped TiO2 showed promising features versus individual counterparts, which is correlated with reduced bandgap of doped nano-catalyst. The N. tabacum leaves extract efficiently stabilized Ag–Zn doped TiO2 nano-catalyst that exhibited remarkable catalytic activity and have potential to treat the dyes in wastewater.

The wound dressings fabricated by polymers and oregano essential oil (OEO) can be very effective as a hydrogel. The current study has been focused on fabricating the hydrogel membranes of oregano oil encapsulated as an antibacterial agent into sodium alginate (SA) solution by solvent casting method and then evaluated the antibacterial, antioxidant activity, and physicochemical performance of SA/OEO-based polymeric membranes. The polymeric interactions, surface morphology, water absorption capability, thermal stability, and encapsulation efficiency were investigated by FT-IR, SEM, swelling ratio, DSC, and encapsulation efficiency. The percentage encapsulation efficiency of essential oil was 40.5%. FTIR validated the presence of molecular interaction between individual components. SEM images showed a rough and porous appearance for hydrogel membranes. Moreover, DSC showed that the fabricated membranes were thermally stable. The inclusion of more content OEO decreased swelling ratios. The antioxidant test was carried out by DPPH assay and antibacterial test through disc diffusion method against microbes. The results revealed that membranes containing the highest content of OEO had more excellent antioxidant and antibacterial efficacy. Therefore, the polymeric membranes of sodium alginate loaded with oregano essential oil can be employed as an effective wound-healing candidate.

Antibiotic residues in wastewater are considered lethal to the crops and aquatic life. One of the promising way to treat this kind of wastewater is the use of constructed wetlands coupled with microbial fuel cell (CW-MFC). In this treatment, bacterial action and redox operation occurs at anaerobic anode and aerobic cathode respectively. Four different configurations of CW-MFCs was applied for comparison. This study focusses on the investigation of the removal of Co-trimoxazole (CMX), other co-existing pollutants and furthermore, the generation of green electricity with low hydraulic retention time (HRT) was studied. Results revealed that the effluent from configuration 1 (gravel based) had lower (CMX) concentration. This removal performance may be associated to greater electrode absorption capacity for (CMX). The removal efficiency was 92.58% at HRT of 3d and effluent concentration was 4 mg/L. On the other hand, CW-MFC1 exhibited the BOD removal (60.60%) regardless of the increasing effluent antibiotic concentration. Pure strain of Geobactor sulfereducens, adjusted with anaerobic sludge increased the bio-film growth. Maximum power density of 480.2 mW/m−3 observed for CW-MFC1. Electricity generation characteristic were also found to be effected with HRT.

Since ancient times, medicinal plants have been used as traditional medicine to treat a variety of ailments. Aloe vera (AV) gel’s therapeutic potential is one of the most effective approach in the fabrication of functional materials. The current study aimed to prepare the AV and chitosan (CS) membranes using various cross-linkers that were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Visible) techniques, as well as swelling ratio and antimicrobial studies. SEM analysis revealed that the membrane is porous, with interconnected pores. The inclusion of AV contents in the membrane improved thermal stability and crystallinity. The swelling ratio of the ACPG-3 membrane with a 2:1 CS to AV ratio was 366%. The membranes showed promising antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, and Pasteurella multocida strains. The findings revealed that polymeric CS/AV membranes have effective potential for use in the biomedical field.

The fruits of wild fig, native to Soon valley of Pakistan, were appraised for phenolic compounds and high-value nutrients. These fruits were shade-dried and extracted with different solvents of varying polarity to recover a wide range of antioxidant components, where hydroxyethanol exhibited highest extraction yield of antioxidant compounds. Among others, hydroxyethanol-derived crude concentration extracts (CCEs) and phenolic rich fractions (PRFs) showed greater amount of total phenolic, flavonoids and superior biological properties. The fruits of tested fruits were found to possess potassium (11.34 g/kg) and calcium (4.19 g/kg) as major elements, glucose (5.63g/100g DW) as dominant natural sugar and acetic acid (2.40 mg/100 g of dry matter) as principal organic acid. There was a considerable (p

This study presents optimization of dyeing variables for dyeing 100% cotton fabric with two novel bifunctional reactive dyes D-1 and D-2. These dyes have sulfatovinylsulfone and monochlorotriazine functional moieties. The impact of different variables, including dyeing temperature, salt concentration, and alkali, was investigated and optimized using response surface methodology (RSM). In spite of an exploring structural difference between both of these dyes, the dyeing temperature was optimized at the same value (61.68°C). The optimized conditions of salt (43.33 g/L) and alkali (29.50 g/L) for D-1 were resulted in 72.29% (±3) of exhaustion and 67.45% (±3) fixation. Similarly, D-2 showed 69% (±3) of exhaustion and 62.5% (±3) fixation at optimum value of salt (44.05 g/L) and alkali (33.87 g/L) concentration. Results showed better fixation and exhaustion of D-1 than dye D-2 which may be attributed to its more structural planarity and lower steric hindrance. The different fastness behaviors of dyes were found good to excellent for both dyes. The results attained were useful and suitable for commercial dyeing processes.

Recently, natural dyes are used because these are environment-friendly, less lethal, and do not have any detrimental effect on health. For the present study, the cotton fabric and the mixed powder (pomegranate rind and turmeric rhizome) have been irradiated for (1–5) min. It has been found that 3 min is the effective exposure time for improvement in dyeing behavior of cellulosic fabric. Good color strength was observed by dyeing fabric irradiated at 65°C for 40 min in dyeing bath having pH 6. For improvements in color fastness, the optimum concentration of pre-mordant (4% copper) and post-mordant (8% chrome) was employed. It is observed that microwaves increased the color strength as well as color fastness properties of irradiated cotton using aqueous solubilized mixed extract of irradiated pomegranate rind and turmeric rhizome powder.

This study focusses on the fabrication of nano-carriers for delivery of ciprofloxacin through the nanoprecipitation process. This was done to examine the release of drug at the pH of stomach to find out the antibacterial action of ciprofloxacin loaded nanoparticles (NPs). Prepared NPs were characterized by Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and particle size analyzer (PSA) techniques. Drug yield, loading, and sustained release was studied as function of time (up to 8 h). Antibacterial activity of ciprofloxacin loaded NPs were also determined against different gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Results revealed that nanoprecipitation is a suitable method for encapsulation of ciprofloxacin in poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) PLGA NPs. The drug yield and drug loading were found to be 60%. The size range of NPs observed by PSA was in the range of 5.03–6.60 nm. It can be concluded that nanoformulation of ciprofloxacin loaded PLGA NPs can be used in stomach for longer period of time to enhance the bioavailability of the drug.

The pollution due to dyes from textile sector is one of the major issues faced worldwide. This study was focused on the removal of the reactive dye, Drimaren Turquoise CL-B using Schizophyllum commune, a white rot fungus (WRF) keeping in mind the current environmental conditions. Different parameters like pH, sources of carbon & nitrogen, temperature, concentration of dye and C/N ratio were used to investigate their effect on the process. Maximum dye removal of 95.45% was obtained at pH 4.5, temperature 35°C, inoculum size 3 mL, veratryl alcohol (mediator), glucose (carbon source) and ammonium nitrate (nitrogen source). The enzyme activity was determined by employing enzyme assay. Laccase and Lignin peroxidase (LiP) activity was low while Manganese peroxidase (MnP) activity was highest. Maximum bio-sorption was achieved at pH 1 and 313 K. The pseudo-2nd-order kinetic model & Freundlich isotherm was best suited for the process of removal of dye. From these data, it is concluded that white rot fungus could possibly be the excellent biomaterial for elimination of synthetic dyes from wastewater.

In the present investigation, zinc oxide nanorods (ZnO-NR) were synthesized via the hydrothermal method using ZnCl2 as a zinc ion precursor in the presence of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide. Synthesized ZnO-NR was featured using advanced techniques including XRD, PL, SEM, and UV-visible spectroscopy. The role of these assynthesized ZnO-NR was evaluated for the sequestration of lead ions in batch mode. The elimination of lead ions was achieved at pH 6-7 using a 0.06 g adsorbent dose, 25 min contact time, 25 mg/L initial lead ion concentration, 323 K temperature, and 200 rpm agitation speed. A thermodynamic study revealed the endothermic nature of lead ion sequestration onto ZnO-NR. The lead ion sequestration followed kinetic (pseudo-second-order) and isotherm (Langmuir) models. The lead ions were eliminated up to 142 mg/g at the optimum level of affecting variables. The ZnO-NR might be a potential adsorbent for lead ion removal from industrial effluents.

A pristine MgFe2O4 and a series of Ni and Cr substituted magnesium ferrite NPs have been fabricated via hydrothermal route. The influence of double ions substitution on MgFe2O4 was examined attributed to structural, optical, electrical, magnetic and photocatalytic properties. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed cubic geometry having fd3m space group with an average crystalline size in 25–33 nm. From hysteresis loop saturation polarization (Ps), coercivity and remanence polarization (Pr)was evaluated and found that the value of Ps and Pr were improved on increasing dopants content. VSM analysis confirms the ferromagnetic behavior of Mg1-xNixFe2-xCrxO4. Furthermore, the dielectric loss decreased by increasing frequency as well as the amount of dopant. UV–Vis absorption spectrum exhibited red-shift and band-gap energy reduced i.e., 2.58 to 2.29 eV. PCA study evaluated using crystal violet (CV) dye and Mg1-xNixFe2-xCrxO4 NPs exhibited higher efficiency and 97 % dye degradation was observed for Mg1-xNixFe2-xCrxO4 versus MgFe2O4 (59 %) under sunlight irradiation in 100 min. Moreover, the stability of NPs was confirmed through recycling experiment and Mg1-xNixFe2-xCrxO4 showed promising stability and reusability. Thus, the enhanced photocatalytic activity under solar light revealed its application for remediation of dyes in industrial waste under sunlight irradiation, it will make the process highly feasible.

Synthesis of nanomaterials is an emerging field due to their fascinating properties for applications in different field and green synthesis offers various advantages versus physical and chemical methods. Herein, green protocol has been adopted for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) using seeds extract of strawberry. The Ag NPs were characterized using advanced techniques comprising UV/Vis, XRD, FTIR, SEM, DLS and EDX. The λmax for the Ag NPs was recorded at 405 nm. The functional groups present in the extract and involved in Ag ions reduction were determined using FTIR analysis. The SEM-EDX analysis confirmed the mono-dispersive nature of Ag NPs along with confirmation of elemental composition. The nanoparticles size distribution was recorded in 50-70 nm range. Bio-fabricated Ag NPs were appraised for antioxidant activity (DPPH with % inhibition 56.61 and ABTS with % inhibition 77.81) and antimicrobial activity, i.e., Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Shigella sonnei, Halomonas halophile, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis. It is concluded that these synthesized NPs could probably be applied as potent antibacterial and antioxidant materials.

Abstract Background The objective of the present research work is to develop the entirely new drug product formulation (Ophthalmic Suspension) which belongs to the therapeutic class of steroids drugs (Corticosteroid). There are different dosage forms of Triamcinolone acetonide to treat different systemic as well as topical diseases as per patient symptomatic conditions. Due to non-availability of this active drug (Triamcinolone acetonide) ophthalmic dosage form in the national and international market research work is carried out to enter in this dosage form. Results In the formulation design and development, different inactive like polysorbate 30 mg/mL, PEG-12 glyceryl dimyristate 70 mg/mL, ethyl alcohol 10 µL/mL, citric acid 1 mg/mL, sodium citrate 3.5–4.0 mg/mL, BKC 0.15 mg/mL and water for injection have been used at different stages in different proportions during the manufacturing procedure. Gradient HPLC, C18 column, 5 µm, 100 A, 3.9 mm × 300 mm, detector UV/Vis @ 254 nm, column oven, auto-sampler, degasser, is used and this analytical testing method is validated to obtain the accurate results. The excipients play different roles including solvent, antioxidant, solubilizer, emulsifier, antibacterial, preservative, anticoagulant, antimicrobial agent, surfactant and buffers in the stability of active drug for its excellent therapeutic output results. Correlation coefficient factor is greater than 0.999 which indicates that the method has good linearity at proposed concentration against triamcinolone acetonide. Conclusions Excellent physical and chemical properties like physical appearance, pH, specific gravity, viscosity, re-suspendability, sedimentation volume is accomplished to meet the requirements of the eye treatment products. On the basis of experimental results achieved during validation process, it can be assumed that the current analysis method is more accurate, precise, specific, linear and consistency indicating in the range of 70 to 130% of the analyte concentration. From the physical, chemical behaviors and chemical assay of the newly developed drug formulation of corticosteroid (triamcinolone acetonide) it is concluded that it can be probably put for further clinical trial in different phases for human use.

The chitosan (CS), hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC), hydroxyapatite (HAp and Lemon grass oil (LGO) based scaffolds was prepared by freeze gelation method. The composite formation was confirmed by FTIR (Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy) analysis and surface morphology was evaluated by SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy) analysis. The mechanical strength, biodegradation, swelling, porosity and antibacterial activity were evaluated on the basis of LGO contents. The scaffold structure was porous and the mechanical strength was enhanced as a function of LGO contents. The scaffold properties analysis revealed the biodegradation nature and swelling behavior of CS-HPMC-HAp-LGO was also affected significantly as a function of LGO contents. The cytotoxicity of CS-HPMC-HAp-LGO was studied against MC3T3-E1 cells and based on cell viability, no toxic sign was observed. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated against S. aureus and CS-HPMC-HAp-LGO scaffolds showed promising activity, which was varied as a function of LGO contents. The findings revealed that the CS-HPMC-HAp-LGO are biocompatible and have potential for bone tissue engineering.

Abstract Background Different pharmaceutical topical agents are available in the market for the treatment of fungal infections. A simple, precise, and cost-effective RP-HPLC method was developed and validated for the determination of hydrocortisone and clotrimazole simultaneously in a topical cream dosage form. Chromatographic separation was done on USP L1 (250 × 4.6) mm column with a particle size of 5 μm. The mobile phase employed for this study consists of acetonitrile and buffer in the ratio of 75:25, respectively. The flow rate was kept at 1 mL per minute. The detection of the drug was carried out at 254 nm using a UV detector. The retention times of HYD and CL were 3.0 min and 7.3 min, respectively. Result The method is developed and validated for linearity, precision, specificity, accuracy, and robustness. Conclusion The stability of finished products gives us knowledge about the effect of different environmental factors like humidity, light, and temperature, and these factors give us information about the quality of finished products.

Pure and palladium (Pd) doped Diamond-like carbon (DLC) thin films have been deposited on glass substrates by using KrF Excimer laser having 248 nm wavelength. The doping concentration of Pd in DLC is 0%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5% and 2.0%. Internal structure, surface morphology, mechanical and electrical characteristics have been carried out by Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Vickers hardening and four point probes, respectively. Using Raman spectra an improved graphitic behavior of DLC has been observed with increase of Pd contents. Some nano rods were observed at the surface of pure and Pd doped DLC thin films. With increase of Pd concentration in DLC, initially there is an accumulation of particles is observed and when the doping concentration is high i.e. at 2%, cracks formation takes place. The electrical resistivity is decreased by adding Pd into DLC thin films. Further, doping of Pd decreased the hardness of films. These characteristics of Pd doped DLC with increased hardness and electrical conductivity make it potential candidate for electronic devices. Also, doping enhance the graphitic behavior, therefore this material can be used for anti-bacterial and anti- cancerous activities.

In present investigation, organic manure was produced and characterized from liquorice residues using activated Effective Microoganism (AEM). The liquorice waste residues were fermented for the period of 6 months in the presence of activated AEM at the rate of 2.5% and 5% of total fermented mixture. Nitrogen (62.5 g) was used per 10 kg of liquorice and moister was maintained at 55–60% during fermentation. The AEM manure production efficiency was evaluated on the basis of pH, C/N ratio, electrical conductivity (EC) and mineral contents. The final pH of organic manure was 6.2, C/N ratio reduced from 13.5 to 6.5, EC and the mineral contents were increased of composted liquorice. Results revealed that the AEM are effective to produce organic manure from agricultural waste matter since the organic manure physico-chemical properties were within the permissible limit and AEM could be used for the production of compost liquorice. Moreover, this technique can also be extended to other agricultural waste materials for the production of organic manure.

Abstract Background Bifenthrin is the third-generation synthetic pyrethroid insecticide having an effective control on the pest of cotton, vegetable, and fruits. This study is focused on the validation of the test procedure for the quantitative determination of bifenthrin contents in the emulsifiable concentrate and measurement of uncertainty. The purpose of this validation procedure is to demonstrate that it is suitable for the intended use. This was determined by gas chromatography with a flame ionization detector (FID). The estimation was carried out on Shimadzu GC equipped with TRB-5 (95% dimethyl, 5% diphenyl polysiloxane) column using a nitrogen carrier gas. Results Different parameters of validation (precision, accuracy, linearity, specificity, selectivity, and robustness) were executed. All steps of method validation were performed, and its uncertainty is determined. The method is simple, selective, accurate, precise, cost-effective, and suitable. The validation parameters are based on harmonized guidelines on the validation of the analytical test method. Conclusions Pesticide formulation bodies can use this method for the qualitative and quantitative determination of bifenthrin different formulations. These data verify that the method is validated, and all results are in an acceptable limit. The method is developed on GC. Moreover, the analysis time is also short as compared to that of HPLC. The developed method is simple reliable and has a realistic approach.

This study focusses on the synthesis of chitosan-cellulose composite membrane derived from Labeo rohita fish scales (FS) for the removal of Cr(III) from aqueous solution, while chromium is a serious threat to groundwater. Waste FS are valorized to chitosan by demineralization, deproteination, and deacetylation successively. Cellulose was extracted from sugarcane bagasse using acidic hydrolysis. Chitosan-based cellulose composite porous membrane was fabricated by evaporating solvent from polymer solution in petri dish. The impact of pH, contact time, and absorbent dosage on the removal of Cr(III) from an aqueous solution was investigated. Atomic absorption spectrophotometer was used to check the Cr(III). Results showed that chitosan comprising 85% degree of deacetylation was achieved by alkali treatment, while yield was 22%. FTIR analysis confirmed the chitosan and chitosan-cellulose-based composite membrane. Morphology studies showed that the cellulose was strongly staggered and due to the chitosan, the surface of cellulose became rougher, which is good to enhance the adsorption capacity. The maximum removal 57% of Cr(III) from aqueous solution was observed at pH 6 at 60 min and 50 mg dosage of adsorbent. The minimum removal (47%) of Cr (III) was found at pH 2. These results confer that Labeo rohita-based chitosan-cellulose composite membrane has great potential for the removal of metals from industrial effluents.

In the present investigation, ZnO NPs was fabricated using Eriobotrya japonica leaves extract. The E. Japonica leaves powder was extracted and mixed with 0.2 M zinc nitrate in 2:4 ratio and pH was adjusted using ammonia solution. Different techniques including UV–Visible spectroscopy (U.V-Vis), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Scanning electron microscope (SEM) techniques were employed to characterize the synthesized ZnO NPs. The peak at 375 nm was observed for ZnO NPs, while the average particle size was 13.0 nm. The elemental composition analysis revealed the NPs was highly pure having irregular platelets shape with aggregates tendency. The as-prepared ZnO NPs was analyzed for their photocatalytic, antibacterial and antioxidant properties. The ZnO NPs exhibited a promising DPPH scavenging activity and was highly active against S. aureus, P. multocida, E. coli and B. subtilis strains. The photocatalytic activity (PCA) was appraised against the removal of methylene blue (MB) dye and we found 72% degradation within 160 min of treatment. Since the synthesized NPs have shown promising bioactivity and PCA, the synthesis of these NPs using E. japonica leaves extracts is suggested for different applications.

The degradation of disperse V-26 in solution using UV; UV/H2O2, UV/H2O2/TiO2 and UV/H2O2/ZnO were investigated. The impacts of various key parameters i.e. initial pH, concentration of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) dose and the dye concentration effect on degradation were studied. The maximum degradation of 93 % was optimized using UV/H2O2/TiO2 at pH 3 in 60 min. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS) were applied to check the products obtained after complete degradation. The removal of peaks of certain groups present in dye molecule assured the maximum degradation of dispersive V-26. In biological treatment, cytotoxicity reduction and Ames test were used to check the toxicity level of products. Certain water parameters i.e. dissolved oxygen (DO), chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biological oxygen demand (BOD) were also performed to ensure the maximum degradation of DV-26. DO was increased up to 82 %. The COD and BOD were reduced considerably owing to the treatment of disperse dye Violet 26 at optimum settings of process variables. The degradation of disperse dye V-26 with UV/H2O2/ZnO was 90.1 % which increased up to 93 % with the alternative photo-catalyst UV/H2O2/TiO2. Keywords: Disperse V-26, UV, H2O2, TiO2, ZnO, FTIR, GC–MS, Toxicity

Nickel is a toxic metal and present in the effluents of electroplating industries. Conventional methods to remove nickel are expensive and ineffective. Heavy metals can be easily adsorbed by dendrimers. Dendrimers are radially symmetric, nano-sized molecules with homogeneous, mono-dispersed and well-defined structures consisting of the tree-like branches, characterized by terminal poly functionality. The present study was focused on the synthesis of PAMAM dendrimers by divergent method and their use for the removal of nickel from aqueous solution. Characterization of synthesized dendrimers were carried out by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), UV-visible spectroscopy and zeta sizer analysis. Different parameters such as contact time, concentration of dendrimers, pH and metal concentration have been optimized. Therefore, equilibrium isotherms and adsorption kinetics were determined. Estimation of extent of metal removal was carried out by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. Results have revealed that PAMAM dendrimers could possibly be used for the removal of nickel from industrial effluents. Keywords: Heavy metals, Dendrimers, SEM, FTIR, Adsorption, Equilibrium isotherms

The present study describes the potential use of 3D MnO2 nanofibrous mesh as photocatalyst for removal of organic dye. The MnO2 nanofibrous mesh has synthesized through facile, one-pot and cost-effective hydrothermal approach without using any template or other structure directing compounds. 3D MnO2 patterns clearly depict the well-dispersed nanofibers having diameter in the range of 10–25 nm, and several microns in length; the unique mesh morphology offers a large surface area to promote enhanced photocatalytic activity, and also provided a macro porous network that supported efficient oxidation. Moreover, the strong electronic cloud and high aspect ratio (HAR) MnO2 nanofibers facilitated the fast oxidation of dyes molecule in a very short period of time. The designed nanostructured material was found to possess heterogeneous photocatalytic potential against the oxidative degradation of Crystal Violet (CV) dye taken as model pollutant. The photocatalytic performance of these materials was evaluated under ultra-violet as well as visible light. Best photocatalytic performance was achieved under visible light with almost complete degradation (97%) exhibited within 90 min of irradiation time. Furthermore, the degradation efficiency of prepared photocatalyst was determined in presence and absence of initiator, hydrogen peroxide, and under different pH conditions. Finally, this technique can be easily scaled-up for removal of various polycyclic organic wastes that might be of potential industrial and environmental interests. Keywords: Manganese oxide, Nanofibrous mesh, Hydrothermal, Photocatalysis, Organic dyes, Visible light, Ultra violet light

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are commonly suspected in nursing home (NH) residents, commonly resulting in antimicrobial prescriptions, even when symptoms are non-specific. To improve the diagnosis and management of suspected UTIs in NH residents, we conducted a pilot test of a paper-based clinical algorithm across NHs in the southern U.S. with ten advanced practice providers (APPs). The paper-based algorithm was modified based on the clinical care needs of our APPs and included antimicrobial treatment recommendations. The APPs found the UTI antimicrobial stewardship and clinical decision support acceptable. The educational sessions and algorithm improved baseline confidence toward UTI diagnosing and treatment. The APPs thought the algorithm was useful and did not negatively impact workload. Feedback from the pilot study will be used to improve the next iteration of the algorithm as we assess its impact on prescribing outcomes.

This study focusses on the synthesis of a series of semisynthetic polymeric blended membranes based on chitosan, guar gum and polyvinyl alcohol for the sustained delivery of antibacterial drugs'' with ''A series of semisynthetic polymeric blended membranes based on GG (guar gum), CS (chitosan) and PVA (polyvinyl alcohol) was fabricated for the sustained delivery of antibacterial drugs. The drug employed in this study includes amoxicillin and doxycycline hyclate. Different ratios of chitosan CS and GG were blended with constant ratio of PVA to synthesize membranes using solution casting method. Fourier transforms infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) study showed the blend formation, surface morphology and crystalline nature of polymeric membranes respectively. Successful bonding among the ingredients was confirmed by crystalline peak of CS cellulose at 22.6˚. Swelling test was used to analyze the water absorbing capacity of the membranes, indicating the hydrophilic nature, making these membranes more liable for drug release application. Results revealed that 25 mg was the ideal amount of drug loaded on blended membrane. Antimicrobial activity was promising against selected bacterial strains and cytotoxicity assay showed that the polymeric membranes have great potential for biomedical field. The membrane (B-2) was considered best amongst all based on the composition and ratio 3:1 of CS to GG, demonstrated good binding between constituents. These membranes can be employed for sustainable drug delivery process due to good swelling, antimicrobial and absorption characteristics.

Rapid release and poor drug encapsulation ability limit the use of single biopolymer in water-soluble drugs loading, carrying and release efficiency. In the present study, blended hydrogels based on guar gum, sodium alginate and polyvinyl alcohol (GG/SA/PVA) were prepared by solution casting technique and employed for controlled release of verapamil HCl (VP-HCl). The extent of interaction of all blends was explored by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) while surface morphology was determined by Atomic force microscope (AFM) and Scanning electron microscope (SEM). The crystallinity, thermal stability and water absorbing capacity of blends were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and swelling studies respectively. The results revealed improved crystallinity and stability of all the blends. The prepared blends showed promising drug loading and releasing efficiency with higher GG contents for the controlled release of verapamil HCl and at pH 7.4. Optimum drug release (94%) drug release was achieved in 12 h and followed non-Fickian diffusion mechanism. It has been concluded from the results that GG/SA/PVA blends have potential for drug delivery applications in a controlled manner.

Biodiesel is considered a sustainable alternative to petro-diesel owing to several favorable characteristics. However, higher production costs, primarily due to the use of costly edible oils as raw materials, are a chief impediment to its pecuniary feasibility. Exploring non-edible oils as raw material for biodiesel is an attractive strategy that would address the economic constraints associated with biodiesel production. This research aims to optimize the reaction conditions for the production of biodiesel through an alkali-catalyzed transesterification of Tamarindus indica seed oil. The Taguchi method was applied to optimize performance parameters such as alcohol-to-oil molar ratio, catalyst amount, and reaction time. The fatty acid content of both oil and biodiesel was determined using gas chromatography. The optimized conditions of alcohol-to-oil molar ratio (6:1), catalyst (1.5% w/w), and reaction time 1 h afforded biodiesel with 93.5% yield. The most considerable contribution came from the molar ratio of alcohol to oil (75.9%) followed by the amount of catalyst (20.7%). In another case, alcohol to oil molar ratio (9:1), catalyst (1.5% w/w) and reaction time 1.5 h afforded biodiesel 82.5% yield. The fuel properties of Tamarindus indica methyl esters produced under ideal conditions were within ASTM D6751 biodiesel specified limits. Findings of the study indicate that Tamarindus indica may be chosen as a prospective and viable option for large-scale production of biodiesel, making it a substitute for petro-diesel.

In the present study, sorption efficacy of chitosan (β-(1→4)-linked d-glucosamine and N-acetyl-d-glucosamine) composite for synthetic direct Rose FRN dye removal from aqueous media was investigated. Chitosan and clay were subjected to chemical modifications to prepare chitosan/clay composite. Batch sorption affecting parameters like pH, composite dose, volume, initial dye concentration, time and temperature were optimized. Maximum sorption capacity (17.18 mg/g) was found within first 40 min of contact. Point of zero charge was found to be 7.0. Linearized and non-linearized regression forms of pseudo 1st and 2nd order kinetic models were used to predict the nature of rate limiting steps involved in the sorption process. Sorption equilibrium data was revealed by applying linear and non-linear equilibrium Langmuir, Freundlich and Redlich–Peterson isotherm models. Calculated values of thermodynamic factors showed that sorption process is exothermic, spontaneous and feasible. Desorption studies were performed for the regeneration of chitosan/clay composite by using different eluting agents. The synthesized composite were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), surface analysis (Brunauer, Emmett and Teller: BET), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The developed method was also applied on the real textile effluent for the efficient removal of dyes. Keywords: Chitosan, Composite, Batch sorption, Linear regression, Nonlinear regression

Fluorescence assays have been widely engaged to assess the affinity of metallic ions. Dansyl chloride or 5-(dimethyl amino)-naphthalene-1-sulfonyl chloride is considered to be the reagent having potential to react with amino groups to yield stable sulfonamide adducts. A fluorescent sensor associated with crown ether moiety could have a potential to be developed as metal ions radar; cations, anions and other biological moieties. This can be further employed to observe relevant biotic processes. The reaction of dansyl sulfonyl chloride with di-ethoxy amine 1 chain in presence of potassium carbonate base resulted in a formation of compound 2. No change was observed on addition of aliquots of anions with compound 2. However, cation binding studies was performed using the series of metallic cations of constant concentration and its influence on a series of cations has been monitored using fluorescence spectrometry. This has been recorded that highest quenching effect was observed for antimony (Sb) and thallium (Tl) while other anions and cations were having no effect. The fluorescent compound 2 was further confirmed with proton-nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy, 13C NMR spectroscopy and ultra violet spectroscopy. It has been concluded that compound 2 is very much selective for the detection of toxic metals like antimony (Sb) and thallium (Tl) even at parts per billion (ppb) levels. This study could be considered as a contemporary development in design and applications of fluorescent investigations containing crown ethers. Keywords: Synthesis, Fluorescence, Ultra-violet, Spectroscopy, Stability constant, Metal and anion complexation

Processing improves the visual quality of food; however, the ingredient and nutritional values may alter. In present study, the sugar samples (refined, raw, gur (Jaggery/jaggeree) and molasses) were collected from 20 different agro-climatic regions of Pakistan and analyzed for the chromium concentration, total phenolic and antioxidant activity, in order to evaluate the processing effect. The concentration of Cr was determined by digestion method using atomic absorption spectrophotometer, while antioxidant activity was determined by DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) and reducing power. It was observed that chromium content in Jaggery was 74% higher than raw sugar, while molasses showed 21.27% higher concentration versus jaggery. The total phenolic contents were found considerably higher in molasses (3751 μg GAE/g) followed by Jaggery (3285 μg GAE/g), raw sugar (27.75 μg GAE/g) and refined sugar (23.81 μg GAE/g). The DPPH scavenging activity and reducing power was also found dependent to sugar type. Form results, it can be concluded that processing significantly affected the chromium contents, total phenolics and antioxidant activity.

Abstract Background The objective of this study was to better understand the experiences of family members in the nursing home to hospital transfer decision making process. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 family members who had recently been involved in a nursing home to hospital transfer decision. Results Family members perceived themselves to play an advocacy role in their resident’s care and interview themes clustered within three over-arching categories: Family perception of the nursing home’s capacity to provide medical care: Resident and family choices; and issues at ‘hand-off’ and the hospital. Multiple sub-themes were also identified. Conclusions Findings from this study contribute to knowledge surrounding the nursing home transfer decision by illuminating the experiences of family members in the transfer decision process.

Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) are promising materials for photocatalytic functions. In class of TMDs, MoS _2 is comprehensively explored as a co-catalyst due to the extraordinary activity for photocatalytic activity of organic dye degradation. But the catalytic activities of MoS _2 are generated through S ions on depiction edges. Also numerous of S ions existed on basal planes are catalytically inactive. The insertion of external metals in MoS _2 organism is extensive way for activation of basal planes surface to enhance concentration of catalytically active sites. For this purpose, nanoparticles of Nickel (Ni) doped MoS _2 are prepared by hydrothermal technique. Structural and morphological analysis are characterized by XRD and SEM, respectively. XRD results showed that Ni is completely doped into MoS _2 . SEM showed that pure MoS _2 has sheet like structure and Ni doped MoS _2 has mix disc and flower like structure. Band gap energy was observed in declining range of 2.30–1.76 eV. The photocatalytic activity of pure MoS _2 and Ni doped MoS _2 were evaluated by degrading MB and RhB dyes under UV light irradiation. MB dye degradation of MB was 71% for pure MoS _2 . For 1% to 5% Ni doping in MoS _2 , MB dye degradated from 85% to 96%. It means that MB dye degradation of MB was enhanced continuously by increasing the concentration of Ni doping. RhB dye degradation of RhB was 62% for pure MoS _2 . For 1% to 5% Ni doping in MoS _2 , the RhB dye degradated from 77% to 91%.

The photodegradation of disperse violet 63 dye was investigated in aqueous solution using UV/H _2 O _2 , UV/H _2 O _2 /SnO _2 and Fenton reagent. The maximum decolorization was achieved in 60 min with 50 mg l ^−1 of dye concentration. The suitability of each process depends upon dye concentration. The photo degradation is very effective at low dye concentration. The degradation percentage increased by enhancing initial amount of hydrogen peroxide and UV irradiation time. The influence of operational parameters like pH, H _2 O _2 concentration, catalyst amount and dye concentration were investigated. After 60 min reaction time, the maximum decolorization of disperse violet 63 with UV/H _2 O _2, UV/H _2 O _2 /SnO _2 and Fe/H _2 O _2 was 81%, 92.7% and 96.4% respectively. The results indicated that Fenton process had more photocatalytic activity for degradation of disperse violet 63 dye than that of UV/H _2 O _2 and UV/H _2 O _2 /SnO _2 . After 60 min, the comparative decomposition order was Fe/H _2 O _2 > UV/H _2 O _2 /SnO _2 > UV/H _2 O _2. It may be concluded that Fenton process could possibly be used for the remediation of toxic pollutants from textile effluents.