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After COVID-19, a turning point in the way of pharmaceutical technology is gene therapy with beneficial potential to start a new medical era. However, commercialization of such pharmaceuticals would never be possible without the help of nanotechnology. Nanomedicine can fulfill the growing needs linked to safety, efficiency, and site-specific targeted delivery of Gene therapy-based pharmaceuticals. This review's goal is to investigate how nanomedicine may be used to transfer nucleic acids by getting beyond cellular and physicochemical barriers. Firstly, we provide a full description of types of gene therapy, their mechanism, translation, transcription, expression, type, and details of diseases with possible mechanisms that can only be treated with genes-based pharmaceuticals. Additionally, we also reviewed different types of physicochemical barriers, physiological and cellular barriers in nucleic acids (DNA/RNA) based drug delivery. Finally, we highlight the need and importance of cationic lipid-based nanomedicine/nanocarriers in gene-linked drug delivery and how nanotechnology can help to overcome the above-discussed barrier in gene therapy and their biomedical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetic magnetite-graphene oxide (Fe3O4-GO) was synthesized using an in-situ precipitation technique and applied in the adsorption of cationic rhodamine B (RhB) and anionic methyl orange (MO) dyes from aqueous solution. The nanocomposite was characterized by different techniques including FTIR, XRD, Raman, XPS, PPMS, BET, SEM and TEM techniques. Batch adsorption studies were conducted to investigate the effect of solution pH, initial metal ion concentration, adsorbent dosage and contact time. The synthesized Fe3O4-GO exhibited characteristic magnetic properties (saturation magnetization of 34 emu/g) and it separated from aqueous solution with ease through the application of an external magnetic field. The adsorption equilibrium time on the adsorption of RhB and MO onto Fe3O4-GO showed best removal of 99.12% for RhB after 60 min, while MO was removed efficiently after 120 min with a removal efficiency of 97.60%. The adsorption of the azo dyes followed the pseudo-second-order kinetics model with high correlation coefficients (0.99995) for RhB and (0.99925) for MO. Maximum removal of the dye pollutants by occurred at pH 8 for RhB and pH 4 for MO, while the optimal adsorbent dosage was 30 mg. The results showed that adsorption equilibrium data were fitted to Langmuir isotherm model and maximum monolayer adsorption capacities for RhB and MO at 70.64 and 15.94 mgg−1, respectively. The magnetic adsorbents were reused for a maximum of 7 cycles and showed reasonable stability and reproducibility. Furthermore, the results showed that Fe3O4-GO nanocomposite can be used as an effective material in the removal of dyes from wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gene therapy has the potential to facilitate targeted expression of therapeutic proteins to promote cartilage regeneration in osteoarthritis (OA). The dense, avascular, aggrecan‐glycosaminoglycan (GAG) rich negatively charged cartilage, however, hinders their transport to reach chondrocytes in effective doses. While viral vector mediated gene delivery has shown promise, concerns over immunogenicity and tumorigenic side‐effects persist. To address these issues, this study develops surface‐modified cartilage‐targeting exosomes as non‐viral carriers for gene therapy. Charge‐reversed cationic exosomes are engineered for mRNA delivery by anchoring cartilage targeting optimally charged arginine‐rich cationic motifs into the anionic exosome bilayer by using buffer pH as a charge‐reversal switch. Cationic exosomes penetrated through the full‐thickness of early‐stage arthritic human cartilage owing to weak‐reversible ionic binding with GAGs and efficiently delivered the encapsulated eGFP mRNA to chondrocytes residing in tissue deep layers, while unmodified anionic exosomes do not. When intra‐articularly injected into destabilized medial meniscus mice knees with early‐stage OA, mRNA loaded charge‐reversed exosomes overcame joint clearance and rapidly penetrated into cartilage, creating an intra‐tissue depot and efficiently expressing eGFP; native exosomes remained unsuccessful. Cationic exosomes thus hold strong translational potential as a platform technology for cartilage‐targeted non‐viral delivery of any relevant mRNA targets for OA treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we use modified cationic nanocarriers as vehicles for the intracellular delivery of therapeutic siRNA. After developing nanocarrier formulations with appropriate pKa, size, swellability, and cytocompatibility, we investigated the importance of siRNA loading methods by studying the impact of the pH and time over which siRNA is loaded into the nanocarriers. We concentrate on diffusion‐based loading in the presence and absence of electrostatic interactions. siRNA release kinetics were studied using samples prepared from nanocarriers loaded by both mechanisms. In addition, siRNA delivery was evaluated for two formulations. While previous studies were conducted with samples prepared by siRNA loading at low pH values, this research provides evidence that loading conditions of siRNA affect the release behavior. This study concludes that this concept could prove advantageous for eliciting prolonged intracellular release of nucleic acids and negatively charged molecules, effectively decreasing dose frequency and contributing to more effective therapies and improved patient outcomes. In addition, our findings could be leveraged for enhanced control over siRNA release kinetics, providing novel methods for the continued optimization of cationic nanoparticles in a wide array of RNA interference‐based applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The binding of conidia to surfaces is a prerequisite for biofouling by fungal species. In this study, Aspergillus niger subtypes 1957 and 1988 were used which produced differently shaped conidia (round or spikey respectively). Test surfaces were characterised for their surface topography, wettability, and hardness. Conidial assays included perpendicular and lateral force measurements, as well as attachment, adhesion and retention assays. Anionic surfaces were less rough (Ra 2.4 nm), less wettable (54°) and harder (0.72 GPa) than cationic surfaces (Ra 5.4 nm, 36° and 0.5 GPa, respectively). Perpendicular and lateral force assays demonstrated that both types of conidia adhered with more force to the anionic surfaces and were influenced by surface wettability. Following the binding assays, fewer A. niger 1957 and A. niger 1988 conidia bound to the anionic surface. However, surface wettability affected the density and dispersion of the conidia on the coatings, whilst clustering was affected by their spore shapes. This work demonstrated that anionic surfaces were more repulsive to A. niger 1998 spores than cationic surfaces were, but once attached, the conidia bound more firmly to the anionic surfaces. This work informs on the importance of understanding how conidia become tightly bound to surfaces, which can be used to prevent biofouling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of Ru substitution on the structure and electrochemical properties of P2‐type Na0.67CoO2 is investigated. The first‐discharge capacities of Na0.67CoO2 and Na0.6 [Co0.78Ru0.22]O2 materials are 128 and 163 mAh g−1 (23.5 mA g−1), respectively. Furthermore, the rate capability is improved due to the electro‐conducting nature of Ru doping. Operando X‐ray diffraction analysis reveals that the Na0.67CoO2 does not undergo a phase transition; however, multiple Na+/vacancy ordered superstructures within the P2 phase appear during Na+ extraction/insertion. In contrast, the Na0.6[Co0.78Ru0.22]O2 material undergoes a P2–OP4 phase transition during desodiation, with no formation of Na+/vacancy ordering within the P2 phase. The increased discharge capacity of Na0.6[Co0.78Ru0.22]O2 is most likely associated with additional cationic Ru4+/Ru5+ redox and increased anionic O2−/(O2n−) redox participation. Combined experimental (galvanostatic cycling, X‐ray absorption spectroscopy, differential electrochemical mass spectrometry) and theoretical (density functional theory calculations) studies confirm that Ru substitution provokes the oxygen‐redox reaction and that partial O2 release from the oxide lattice is the origin of the reaction. The findings provide new insight for improving the electrode performance of cathode materials via 4d Ru substitution and motivate the development of a new strategy for the design of high‐capacity cathode materials for sodium‐ion batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, an intelligent theranostic therapeutic platform based on a nanoporous ionic porous organic polymer (POP) hybrid (BG-SNP) endowed with photodriven nitric oxide (NO) release capacity was facilely fabricated as a four-mode synergistic antimicrobial agent. The BG-SNP nanoporous composite incorporated the motifs of guanidinium, BODIPY, and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and, concurrently, could realize the combinational photothermal, photodynamic, cationic, and NO gas antibacterial therapy. This specific hybrid is constructed by in situ ion exchange, in which the negatively charged nitroprusside anion was bonded with the positively charged POP, forming a composite with controllable carbon monoxide generation behavior. Both the release amount and speed are highly controlled in response to photoirradiation. Upon laser irradiation (638 nm, 1.0 W cm–2) for 10 min, a BG-SNP nanoporous composite (250 μg mL–1) could rapidly generate massive quantities of NO, exerting a multimode synergistic antibacterial effect with bacteria killing >99% toward both the Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Meanwhile, BG-SNP featured good biosafety according to blood and cell compatibility experiments. In vivo open-wound-healing assay revealed that the BG-SNP nanoporous composite also featured enhanced antibacterial and antiinflammatory capabilities in the infected wounds, thereby prominently accelerating the regeneration of skin tissue and closure of wounds. This unique "all-in-one" POP composite provides a safe but reliable multimode synergistic antibacterial strategy for the rapid repair of infected wounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Polymer Materials Science & Engineering is the property of Sichuan University, Polymer Research Institute and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Secondary organic aerosol (SOA) represents a major constituent of tropospheric fine particulate matter, with profound implications for human health and climate. However, the chemical mechanisms leading to SOA formation remain uncertain, and atmospheric models consistently underpredict the global SOA budget. Small α-dicarbonyls, such as methylglyoxal, are ubiquitous in the atmosphere because of their significant production from photooxidation of aromatic hydrocarbons from traffic and industrial sources as well as from biogenic isoprene. Current experimental and theoretical results on the roles of methylglyoxal in SOA formation are conflicting. Using quantum chemical calculations, we show cationic oligomerization of methylglyoxal in aqueous media. Initial protonation and hydration of methylglyoxal lead to formation of diols/tetrol, and subsequent protonation and dehydration of diols/tetrol yield carbenium ions, which represent the key intermediates for formation and propagation of oligomerization. On the other hand, our results reveal that the previously proposed oligomerization via hydration for methylglyoxal is kinetically and thermodynamically implausible. The carbenium ion-mediated mechanism occurs barrierlessly on weakly acidic aerosols and cloud/fog droplets and likely provides a key pathway for SOA formation from biogenic and anthropogenic emissions.

In vivo delivery of large RNA molecules has significant implications for novel gene therapy, biologics delivery, and vaccine applications. We have developed cationic nanolipoprotein particles (NLPs) to enhance the complexation and delivery of large self-amplifying mRNAs (replicons) in vivo. NLPs are high-density lipoprotein (HDL) mimetics, comprised of a discoidal lipid bilayer stabilized by apolipoproteins that are readily functionalized to provide a versatile delivery platform. Herein, we systematically screened NLP assembly with a wide range of lipidic and apolipoprotein constituents, using biophysical metrics to identify lead candidates for in vivo RNA delivery. NLPs formulated with cationic lipids successfully complexed with RNA replicons encoding luciferase, provided measurable protection from RNase degradation, and promoted replicon in vivo expression. The NLP complexation of the replicon and in vivo transfection efficiency were further enhanced by modulating the type and percentage of cationic lipid, the ratio of cationic NLP to replicon, and by incorporating additive molecules.

Introduction: Gene therapy holds promise to cure various diseases at the fundamental level. For that, efficient carriers are needed for successful gene delivery. Synthetic 'non-viral' vectors, as cationic polymers, are quickly gaining popularity as efficient vectors for transmitting genes. However, they suffer from high toxicity associated with the permeation and poration of the cell membrane. This toxic aspect can be eliminated by nanoconjugation. Still, results suggest that optimising the oligonucleotide complexation, ultimately determined by the size and charge of the nanovector, is not the only barrier to efficient gene delivery. Methods: We herein develop a comprehensive nanovector catalogue comprising different sizes of Au NPs functionalized with two different cationic molecules and further loaded with mRNA for its delivery inside the cell. Results and Discussion: Tested nanovectors showed safe and sustained transfection efficiencies over 7 days, where 50 nm Au NPs displayed the highest transfection rates. Remarkably, protein expression was increased when nanovector transfection was performed combined with chloroquine. Cytotoxicity and risk assessment demonstrated that nanovectors are safe, ascribed to lesser cellular damage due to their internalization and delivery via endocytosis. Obtained results may pave the way to design advanced and efficient gene therapies for safely transferring oligonucleotides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The straightforward synthesis of three cationic boron-dipyrromethene (BODIPY) derivatives and their mitochondria-targeting and photodynamic therapeutic (PDT) capabilities are reported. Two cancer cell lines (HeLa and MCF-7) were used to investigate the PDT activity of the dyes. Compared to their non-halogenated counterparts, halogenated BODIPY dyes exhibit lower fluorescence quantum yields and enable the efficient production of singlet oxygen species. Following LED light irradiation at 520 nm, the synthesized dyes displayed good PDT capabilities against the treated cancer cell lines, with low cytotoxicity in the dark. In addition, functionalization of the BODIPY backbone with a cationic ammonium moiety enhanced the hydrophilicity of the synthesized dyes and, consequently, their uptake by the cells. The results presented here collectively demonstrate the potential of cationic BODIPY-based dyes as therapeutic drugs for anticancer photodynamic therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to their broad-spectrum activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, natural antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and their synthetic analogs have emerged as prospective therapies for treating illnesses brought on by multi-drug resistant pathogens. To overcome the limitations of AMPs, such as protease degradation, oligo-N-substituted glycines (peptoids) are a promising alternative. Despite having the same backbone atom sequence as natural peptides, peptoid structures are more stable because, unlike AMP, their functional side chains are attached to the backbone nitrogen (N)-atom rather than the alpha carbon atom. As a result, peptoid structures are less susceptible to proteolysis and enzymatic degradation. The advantages of AMPs, such as hydrophobicity, cationic character, and amphipathicity, are mimicked by peptoids. Furthermore, structure-activity relationship studies (SAR) have shown that tuning the structure of peptoids is a crucial step in developing effective antimicrobials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scandium(III) and ytterbium(III) trifluoromethanesulfonate are active for the terminationless polymerization of moderate reactivity olefins (β‐pinene, isobutene, styrene) in conjunction with a variety of initiators (e.g., Brønsted acids, halogens, and carbocation synthons). Neither Lewis acid requires chlorinated/toxic solvents to operate. The Yb congener is quantitatively recovered by aqueous extraction, reactivated by dehydration, and maintains its activity after multiple reuses. Both acids produce good yields (up to ~100%) of polyisobutene with an average exo‐olefinic end‐group content for Sc(OTf)3 of 86% (Alfa Asear) and 75% (Aldrich), and 94% for Yb(OTf)3 (Aldrich). The molecular weights of poly(β‐pinene) and polyisobutene made by scandium(III) and ytterbium(III) trifluoromethanesulfonate, respectively, in combination with methanol are quite favorable at ambient temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to reexamine the general statement declaring that cationic and anionic species cannot be compatible in cosmetic products. This research demonstrated that there are considerable differences between the binding of cationic preservatives and various anionic compounds used in cosmetics, depending on the anionic functional group. Sulfate- and sulfonate-based molecules showed significantly stronger interactions with cationic surfactants than carboxylate-based anionic surfactants: This difference of affinity could reach a ratio of 1 to 10. We validated that conductimetry and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) can be used as predictive tools to determine the molecular interactions between any cationic and anionic species. Consequently, the correlation between compatible and incompatible cationic/anionic mixtures were verified and their corresponding anti-microbial activity using the challenge test was assessed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IntroductionGene therapy holds promise to cure various diseases at the fundamental level. For that, efficient carriers are needed for successful gene delivery. Synthetic ‘non-viral’ vectors, as cationic polymers, are quickly gaining popularity as efficient vectors for transmitting genes. However, they suffer from high toxicity associated with the permeation and poration of the cell membrane. This toxic aspect can be eliminated by nanoconjugation. Still, results suggest that optimising the oligonucleotide complexation, ultimately determined by the size and charge of the nanovector, is not the only barrier to efficient gene delivery.MethodsWe herein develop a comprehensive nanovector catalogue comprising different sizes of Au NPs functionalized with two different cationic molecules and further loaded with mRNA for its delivery inside the cell.Results and DiscussionTested nanovectors showed safe and sustained transfection efficiencies over 7 days, where 50 nm Au NPs displayed the highest transfection rates. Remarkably, protein expression was increased when nanovector transfection was performed combined with chloroquine. Cytotoxicity and risk assessment demonstrated that nanovectors are safe, ascribed to lesser cellular damage due to their internalization and delivery via endocytosis. Obtained results may pave the way to design advanced and efficient gene therapies for safely transferring oligonucleotides.

Oxygen‐redox‐based‐layered cathode materials are of great importance in realizing high‐energy‐density sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) that can satisfy the demands of next‐generation energy storage technologies. However, Mn‐based‐layered materials (P2‐type Na‐poor Nay[AxMn1−x]O2, where A = alkali ions) still suffer from poor reversibility during oxygen‐redox reactions and low conductivity. In this work, the dual Li and Co replacement is investigated in P2‐type‐layered NaxMnO2. Experimentally and theoretically, it is demonstrated that the efficacy of the dual Li and Co replacement in Na0.6[Li0.15Co0.15Mn0.7]O2 is that it improves the structural and cycling stability despite the reversible Li migration from the transition metal layer during de‐/sodiation. Operando X‐ray diffraction and ex situ neutron diffraction analysis prove that the material maintains a P2‐type structure during the entire range of Na+ extraction and insertion with a small volume change of ≈4.3%. In Na0.6[Li0.15Co0.15Mn0.7]O2, the reversible electrochemical activity of Co3+/Co4+, Mn3+/Mn4+, and O2‐/(O2)n‐ redox is identified as a reliable mechanism for the remarkable stable electrochemical performance. From a broader perspective, this study highlights a possible design roadmap for developing cathode materials with optimized cationic and anionic activities and excellent structural stabilities for SIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Membrane distillation (MD) is an emerging technology for water recovery from hypersaline wastewater. Membrane scaling and wetting are the drawbacks that prevent the widespread implementation of the MD process. In this study, coaxially electrospun polyvinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene (PVDF-co-HFP) nanofibrous membranes were fabricated with re-entrant architecture and enhanced hydrophobicity/omniphobicity. The multiscale roughness was constructed by incorporating Al2O3 nanoparticles and 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H Perfluorodecyltriethoxysilane in the sheath solution. High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) could confirm the formation of the core-sheath nanofibrous membranes, which exhibited a water contact angle of ~142.5° and enhanced surface roughness. The membrane displayed a stable vapor flux of 12 L.m−2.h−1 (LMH) for a 7.0 wt.% NaCl feed solution and no loss in permeate quality or quantity. Long-term water recovery from 10.5 wt.% NaCl feed solution was determined to be 8–10 LMH with >99.9% NaCl rejection for up to 5 cycles of operation (60 h). The membranes exhibited excellent resistance to wetting even above the critical micelle concentration (CMC) for surfactants in the order sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) (16 mM) > cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) (1.5 mM) > Tween 80 (0.10 mM). The presence of salts further deteriorated membrane performance for SDS (12 mM) and Tween-80 (0.05 mM). These coaxial electrospun nanofibrous membranes are robust and can be explored for long-term applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The binding of conidia to surfaces is a prerequisite for biofouling by fungal species. In this study, Aspergillus niger subtypes 1957 and 1988 were used which produced differently shaped conidia (round or spikey respectively). Test surfaces were characterised for their surface topography, wettability, and hardness. Conidial assays included perpendicular and lateral force measurements, as well as attachment, adhesion and retention assays. Anionic surfaces were less rough (Ra 2.4 nm), less wettable (54°) and harder (0.72 GPa) than cationic surfaces (Ra 5.4 nm, 36° and 0.5 GPa, respectively). Perpendicular and lateral force assays demonstrated that both types of conidia adhered with more force to the anionic surfaces and were influenced by surface wettability. Following the binding assays, fewer A. niger 1957 and A. niger 1988 conidia bound to the anionic surface. However, surface wettability affected the density and dispersion of the conidia on the coatings, whilst clustering was affected by their spore shapes. This work demonstrated that anionic surfaces were more repulsive to A. niger 1998 spores than cationic surfaces were, but once attached, the conidia bound more firmly to the anionic surfaces. This work informs on the importance of understanding how conidia become tightly bound to surfaces, which can be used to prevent biofouling.

Antibiotic resistance is a severe threat to the world's public health, which has increased the need to discover novel antibacterial molecules. In this context, an emerging class of naturally occurring short peptide molecules called antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) has been considered potent antibacterial agents. Amphibians are one of the significant sources of AMPs, which have been extensively studied for the last few decades. Most amphibian AMPs are cationic, and several of these cationic AMPs adopt a well-defined alpha-helical structure in the presence of bacterial membranes. These cationic alpha-helical amphibian AMPs (CαAMPs) can selectively and preferentially bind with the negatively charged surfaces of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria through electrostatic interaction, considered the main reason for their antibacterial activities. Here, we categorized these CαAMPs according to their charge, and to calculate the charge density; we divided the charge of each peptide by its corresponding length. To investigate the effect of charge among these categories, charge or charge density under each charge category was plotted against their corresponding minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Moreover, the effect of charge modification of some CαAMPs under specific charge categories in the context of MIC and hemolysis was also discussed. The information in this review will help us understand the antibacterial activity of accessible CαAMPs depending on each charge category across species. Additionally, this study suggests that designing novel functional antibacterial agents requires charge modification optimally.

Microalgae biomass has been considered as one of the potential feedstocks in biofuel production. Yet, biomass harvesting poses a challenge to the overall production cost due to its low cell density. Flocculation has been marked as one of the promising processes in microalgae harvesting technology. In this study, the first screening of two anionic (A-230, and A-330E) and five cationic polymers (C-810E, C-810EL, C-810EB, C-810ELH, and C-810EMB) followed by gravity settling with the mixed microalgae concentration of 2.24 g TSS /L revealed that anionic polymers are less effective. Whereas all cationic polymers achieved above 90% harvesting efficiency. Therefore, the maximum mass recovery of 98.7% with 86.8 g TSS /L sediment content was achieved by adjusting pH to 6–0.6 mL/L (115.178 mg/g biomass) of C-810E followed by 15-min settling. The cationic polymer addition followed by settling would enable cost-effective downstream processing of microalgal biomass. [Display omitted] • Two anionic and five cationic polymers have been evaluated for microalgae harvest. • Cationic polymers with 0.5 mL/L dosage showed over 90% efficiency. • Peak mass recovery of 98.7% attained by C-810E at dosage 0.6 mL/L and pH 6.0. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chain polymerizations are defined as chain reactions where the propagation steps occur by reaction between monomer(s) and active site(s) on the polymer chains with regeneration of the active site(s) at each step. Many forms of chain polymerization can be distinguished according to the mechanism of the propagation step (e.g., cyclopolymerization – when rings are formed, condensative chain polymerization – when propagation is a condensation reaction, group-transfer polymerization, polyinsertion, ring-opening polymerization – when rings are opened), whether they involve a termination step or not (e.g., living polymerization – when termination is absent, reversible-deactivation polymerization), whether a transfer step is involved (e.g., degenerative-transfer polymerization), and the type of chain carrier or active site (e.g., radical, ion, electrophile, nucleophile, coordination complex). The objective of this document is to provide a language for describing chain polymerizations that is both readily understandable and self-consistent, and which covers recent developments in this rapidly evolving field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is crucial to explore the effect of complex wastewater compositions on the ferrous/sodium percarbonate (Fe(Ⅱ)/SPC) system and the role of oxidation-coagulation in designing water treatment processes. This study employed redundancy analysis to investigate the effects of wastewater constituents on oxidation and coagulation. Raman analysis, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy, and Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry were used to determine the roles of oxidation and coagulation in the system. The results showed that sulfates and phosphates formed amorphous complexes with iron species via coprecipitation, thereby promoting coagulation to remove organics. Some heavy metals can also be removed by coagulation. The co-activation of SPC by pre-existing transition metals and the added Fe(Ⅱ) facilitated the oxidative removal of organics, while chloride and arsenic were the main inhibitory inorganic substances in the system. Aromatic compounds mainly promoted coagulation, polysaccharides promoted oxidation, humic acid promoted oxidation and coagulation, and C=C/C=O inhibited the Fe(Ⅱ)/SPC system. The oxidation process removed graphitic structures and unsaturated organic matter in the region of (O/C, H/C) = (0.2-0.4, 0.9-2.0) through free radicals and generated amorphous carbon structures and saturated organic matter in the region of (O/C, H/C) = (0.3-0.7, 1.2-1.9). The coagulation process removed aromatic organics with 2-5 rings and unsaturated organics in the region of (O/C, H/C) = (0.2-0.6, 0.7-1.6) with oxygen-containing organics. The combined effects of coagulation and oxidation enhanced the removal efficiency of organic carbon by approximately 40%. This study facilitates the optimization of hydrothermal carbonization wastewater treatment and advanced oxidation processes., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is still incurable hematologic neoplasia in an important percentage of patients. Therefore, new therapeutic approaches need to be developed. Methods: To evaluate the cellular effect of cell-penetrating peptides (C-PP) on leukemia cells, Jurkat cells -a model of ALL were exposed to increasing concentration (50–500 μM) Aβ25–35, R7-G-Aβ25-35 and Aβ25–35-G-R7 peptide for 24 h. 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, flow cytometry (FC), and fluorescent microscopy (FM) analysis were used to assess metabolic viability, cell cycle and proliferation, mitochondria functionality, oxidative stress, and cell death markers. Results: We report for the first time that the R7-G-Aβ25-35, but not Aβ25–35 peptide, induced selective cell death in Jurkat cells more efficiently than the Aβ25–35-G-R7 peptide. Indeed, R7-G-Aβ25-35 (200 μM) altered the metabolic activity (−25%), arrested the cell cycle in the G2/M-phase (15%), and induced a significant reduction of cellular proliferation (i.e., −74% reduction of Ki-67 nuclei reactivity). Moreover, R7-G-Aβ25-35 induced the dissipation of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm, 51%) and produced an important amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS, 75% at 8 h) in Jurkat cells. The exposure of cells to antioxidant/cytoprotectant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) did not prevent R7-G-Aβ25-35 from a loss of ΔΨm in Jurkat cells. The peptide was also unable to activate the executer CASPASE-3, thereby preserving the integrity of the cellular DNA corroborated by the fact that the caspase-3 inhibitor NSCI was unable to protect cells from R7-G-Aβ25-35 -induced cell damage. Further analysis showed that the R7-G-Aβ25-35 peptide is specifically localized at the outer mitochondria membrane (OMM) according to colocalization with the protein translocase TOMM20. Additionally, the cytotoxic effect of the poly-R7 peptide resembles the toxic action of the uncoupler FCCP, mitocan oligomycin, and rotenone in Jurkat cells. Importantly, the R7-G-Aβ25-35 peptide was innocuous to menstrual mesenchymal stromal cells (MenSC) –normal non-leukemia proliferative cells. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrated that the cationic Aβ peptide possesses specific anti-leukemia activity against Jurkat cells through oxidative stress (OS)- and CASPASE-3-independent mechanism but fast mitochondria depolarization.

Copyright of Transactions of China Pulp & Paper is the property of China Pulp & Paper Magazines Publisher and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Enhancing the viscoelastic characteristics of hydrogel systems through strategic colloidal particle interactions is paramount for their functionality in rectal gel applications. This investigation delves into the synergistic interactions between cationic nanoparticles (CNPs), anionic nanoparticles (ANPs), and composite nanoparticles (NPs) within a hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogel matrix, employing response surface methodology (RSM) for optimisation. Critical parameters, namely the volume fraction of NPs and oscillatory amplitude, were meticulously calibrated to achieve optimal complex viscosity, as determined by advanced rheometric analysis. The findings reveal substantial effects of CNPs, ANPs, and mixed NPs on the viscoelasticity of the HA hydrogel, with complex viscosity measurements of 490.82 ± 10.57, 214.70 ± 8.96, and 328.46 ± 6.67 mPa. s, respectively. The hydrogel system with mixed NPs exhibited a strong concordance with empirical data (R² = 0.9843), validating the predictive precision of the model. Morphological assessments uncovered a highly interconnected network within the HA gel-particle composite, characterised by both densely and sparsely packed porous architectures. This study presents a robust framework for modulating viscoelastic properties in colloidal particle-gel systems, providing pivotal insights for the development of advanced rectal gel formulations. [Display omitted] • RSM-CCD approach for the optimisation of complex viscosity in HA gel-particle system. • Interaction of surface charge of the nanoparticles with hyaluronic acid hydrogel system. • SEM analysis revealed a varying morphology with complex interconnected structures. • The volume and surface charge of the nanoparticles and amplitude is most critical parameter. • Complex viscosity of the increases and decreases with cationic and anionic NPs respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to their broad-spectrum activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, natural antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and their synthetic analogs have emerged as prospective therapies for treating illnesses brought on by multi-drug resistant pathogens. To overcome the limitations of AMPs, such as protease degradation, oligo-N-substituted glycines (peptoids) are a promising alternative. Despite having the same backbone atom sequence as natural peptides, peptoid structures are more stable because, unlike AMP, their functional side chains are attached to the backbone nitrogen (N)-atom rather than the alpha carbon atom. As a result, peptoid structures are less susceptible to proteolysis and enzymatic degradation. The advantages of AMPs, such as hydrophobicity, cationic character, and amphipathicity, are mimicked by peptoids. Furthermore, structure-activity relationship studies (SAR) have shown that tuning the structure of peptoids is a crucial step in developing effective antimicrobials.

The straightforward synthesis of three cationic boron-dipyrromethene (BODIPY) derivatives and their mitochondria-targeting and photodynamic therapeutic (PDT) capabilities are reported. Two cancer cell lines (HeLa and MCF-7) were used to investigate the PDT activity of the dyes. Compared to their non-halogenated counterparts, halogenated BODIPY dyes exhibit lower fluorescence quantum yields and enable the efficient production of singlet oxygen species. Following LED light irradiation at 520 nm, the synthesized dyes displayed good PDT capabilities against the treated cancer cell lines, with low cytotoxicity in the dark. In addition, functionalization of the BODIPY backbone with a cationic ammonium moiety enhanced the hydrophilicity of the synthesized dyes and, consequently, their uptake by the cells. The results presented here collectively demonstrate the potential of cationic BODIPY-based dyes as therapeutic drugs for anticancer photodynamic therapy.

The omnipresence of microplastics (MPs) around the world has attracted extensive attention in the past decade with more focuses on the interactions of standard MPs without additives in regular shapes and individual pollutant, whereas the actual MPs containing various additives in irregular shapes and complex pollutants are often co-occurrence in the environments. In this paper, the adsorption performance of disposable polypropylene (PP) cups-based MPs subjected to ultraviolet irradiation was investigated in unitary and binary water matrices. The surface characteristics were analyzed and the experimental data of adsorption were fitted by various kinetic and isotherm models, and the results indicated that more cracks and oxygen-containing functional groups with decreased hydrophobicity were produced with aging, and electrostatic attraction and hydrogen bonding dominated methylene blue (MB) and tetracycline (TC) capture in the individual system. Moreover, pseudo-second order kinetic model better described the adsorption processes. In the binary system, the co-existence of TC promoted MB uptake, while the presence of MB inhibited TC capture. In addition, TC adsorption was enhanced by Ca2+, maybe due to its complexation effect, while the presence of mono- and divalent inorganic salts inhibited MB capture. This research provides useful insights for the fate of PP-MPs and organic pollutants in the complex environments. [Display omitted] • Aging enhanced cracks and oxygen-containing functional groups. • Pseudo-second order kinetic model better described the adsorption processes. • Electrostatic attraction and hydrogen bonding dominated MB and TC capture. • The coexisting inorganic salts inhibited MB adsorption. • Calcium ion promoted TC adsorption by complexation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Native starches exhibit some technological drawbacks in industrial food applications; however, modification can remedy the lack of functionality. This study optimized the preparation of cationic, acetylated, and cationic-acetylated glutinous rice starch using response surface methodology. Subsequently, physicochemical properties were analyzed. Static rheological analysis revealed the pseudoplastic behavior of all samples. Dynamic rheological analysis revealed that all starches showed weak elastic gel structure. Modification dramatically improved freeze-thaw stability. For swelling power, solubility, and paste transparency, cationization (cationic and dual-modified starches) showed excellent performance. The SEM image showed that cationization and dual modification changed the morphology of starch granule, while acetylation had little effect. Overall, single cationization, and dual modification have more advantages than single acetylation modification in performance improvement. This provides the theoretical basis for the preparation of modified glutinous rice starch and expands the application of glutinous rice starch in the food industry, such as stabilizers and food packaging. [Display omitted] • The cationization-acetylation dual modified glutinous rice starch was prepared. • The modification improved the solubility, swelling power, freeze-thaw stability, etc. • The combination of acetylation and cationization had superposition effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to reexamine the general statement declaring that cationic and anionic species cannot be compatible in cosmetic products. This research demonstrated that there are considerable differences between the binding of cationic preservatives and various anionic compounds used in cosmetics, depending on the anionic functional group. Sulfate- and sulfonate-based molecules showed significantly stronger interactions with cationic surfactants than carboxylate-based anionic surfactants: This difference of affinity could reach a ratio of 1 to 10. We validated that conductimetry and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) can be used as predictive tools to determine the molecular interactions between any cationic and anionic species. Consequently, the correlation between compatible and incompatible cationic/anionic mixtures were verified and their corresponding anti-microbial activity using the challenge test was assessed.

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The persistence of bacterial infections in humans causes severe adverse health consequences and uncertainties in the global economy. It is of great advantage to develop a rapid tool for the earlier diagnosis and treatment of pathogenic infections. In this work, an active polythiophene derivative containing reactive pentafluorophenyl (PFP) ester groups was prepared via Fe3+-catalyzed oxidative polymerization using PFP thiophene-3-acetate as the monomer. The active polythiophene derivative was conjugated with N,N-dimethyl-1,3-propanediamine via ester-amine reaction, followed by quaternization with 1-bromobutane. The resultant polythiophene derivative (QPDMAPTA) possesses the quaternary ammonium salt groups on its side chain and shows cationic zeta potential of + 12.79 eV at neutral pH. The as-prepared QPDMAPTA exhibits high-level antibacterial action against gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Staphylococcus epidermidis (S. epidermidis), and methicillin-resistant S. aureus) as compared with gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa)). Furthermore, the zeta potential measurements show higher uptake of QPDMAPTA by gram-positive bacteria than the gram-negative bacteria, which depicts the active role of the biological interactions with the charged QPDMAPTA in its differential uptake and bactericidal effect. This phenomenon also facilitates the identification of gram-positive bacteria by observing the color changes of collected bacterial cakes before and after treatment with QPDMAPTA. The fluorescent nature of QPDMAPTA can be used for imaging and detection of gram-positive bacteria via adopting a fluorescent technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodegradable cationic waterborne polyurethanes (WPUs) were successfully prepared using poly(caprolactone) diol as the soft segment. To improve the mechanical performance, adhesive strength and water resistance of the WPU films, different amounts of trimethylol propane monooleate (TMPM) containing biodegradable long‐branched aliphatic chains were incorporated in the PU structure. The T‐peel strength of WPU‐3 reached 42.8 N/25 mm, which was about 324% higher than that of WPU (10.1 N/25 mm) without TMPM. On the other hand, the elongation at break of WPU‐5 was 811%. On enhancing the TMPM content from 0 to 7.8 wt %, the surface tension decreased from 53.6 to 41.5 mN/m and the water contact angle of the WPU films increased from 52.4 to 81.0°, whereas the water absorption was observed to decrease from 15.6% to 9.6%. The fracture mechanism of the WPU films transformed from the brittle failure to the ductile fracture. The experiment results showed the cationic WPU modified by TMPM displayed excellent film‐forming property flexibility and adhesion, the surface tension of WPU dispersion and crystallinity of the resulting film were significantly reduced. For the first time, a biodegradable cationic WPU has been prepared by modification with TMPM, which can be employed for constructing the eco‐friendly biodegradable cationic WPUs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of New Building Materials / Xinxing Jianzhu Cailiao is the property of New Building Materials Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Aim. The main goal of the study was to investigate the antibacterial and fungicidal properties of the traditional and newly synthesized surfactants of different classes, compare the analysis of their antimicrobial activity and find out the prospects for further use for the creation of disinfectants. Methods. The biocidal activity of the studied cationic, anionic and nonionic surfactants was determined in relation to representatives of the species Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus, as well as fungi Candida albicans. The detection of antibacterial and fungicidal effect and determination of minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) was carried out by cultivation of the test cultures of microorganisms in Nutrient Broth (NB, Himedia, India) for 24-48 hours at 37 °in the presence of different concentrations of experimental surfactants (1000-0.1 ppm). The number of cells that remained viable after exposure to surfactants was determined by optical density in McFarland units, which were then converted to the number of cells in 1 ml using the standard McFarland scale. Results. The newly synthesized guanidine-containing oligomer at concentrations of 1000 and 100 ppm inhibited the growth of all test cultures without exception by 100 %. The biocidal effect on the representatives of various taxonomic groups of microorganisms differed in its effectiveness for various anionic surfactants (trilon B, surfactant 2 and surfactant 3) even at the highest concentration of 1000 ppm. In particular, only trilon B completely inhibited the growth of all test cultures. However, at the concentrations indicated above, the examined cationic (surfactant 1 and triethanolamine) and nonionic (OP-10 and triton X-100) exhibited a rather low antimicrobial activity. Conclusions. The results obtained indicate that the guanidine-containing oligomer exhibited the highest antimicrobial activity among the investigated surfactants. Therefore, it can be considered a promising surfactant for further use in the creation of broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents. Enhancement of the biocidal effect of newly created disinfectants can be implemented by introducing the studied anionic and nonionic detergents, and glutaraldehyde can be used to stabilize them or enhance their antimicrobial activity. Instead, the application of cationic surfactants used in the work is impractical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The degradation of dodecylpyridinium chloride (DPC) by SO4•− and HO• radicals, generated by UVA and thermal-activated persulfate (PS) was investigated. Temperatures of 30–50°C were used for the heat activation of PS. In the case of UVA/PS, the effects of [PS]0 and specific photon emission rate (EP,0) were studied through a Doehlert design coupled with statistical analysis and response surface methodology. The results showed high DPC removal (99.8%) and pseudo-first-order degradation rate (kobs = 0.0971 min−1) for [DPC]0 = 4.60 ± 0.11 mg L−1, [PS]0 = 7.75 mmol L−1, and EP,0 = 0.437 μmol photons L−1 s−1, with a major role of SO4•− radicals in comparison with HO•. The specific DPC degradation rate found under these conditions was higher than that observed for thermal activation at 50°C and [PS]0 = 5.5 mmol L−1 (kobs = 0.0712 min−1) over the same time, although complete DPC removal was also achieved in the latter. The positive effect of EP,0 on DPC degradation by the UVA/PS process depends on PS concentrations, with kobs values increasing linearly with [PS]0 in the range 7.75–10 mmol L−1, whereas lower EP,0 values can be compensated by increasing [PS]0 up to about 10 mmol L−1, without significant scavenging. The second-order rate constants of DPC with HO• and SO4•−, estimated by comprehensive kinetic modeling, were 8.26 × 109 and 4.44 × 109 L mol−1 s−1, respectively. Furthermore, higher [DPC]0 would negatively affect the DPC degradation rate by the UVA/PS process, while 62% DPC removal was obtained in WWTP water, which can be considered good given the complexity of the real matrix. Finally, our results shed light on the possibility of using available UVA radiation (4.5%) in solar irradiance on the Earth's surface, making this treatment process more sustainable and cost-effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: There are no clinical studies directly comparing anionic and cationic emulsions of cyclosporine for the treatment of dry eye disease (DED). We therefore conducted a literature review to evaluate the efficacy and safety of these different formulations. Methods: A literature search was performed in Embase and Medline from January 1999 to May 2019 to identify publications that evaluated clinical outcomes with either cyclosporine anionic or cationic emulsion in patients with moderate-to-severe or severe DED. Results: Thirteen publications met criteria. In patients with moderate-to-severe disease, evidence demonstrated improvement in the signs of DED with both formulations. However, improvement in symptoms was not consistently demonstrated. Studies specifically in severe DED were only identified with the cationic emulsion and showed improvement in the objective signs of DED. There were no obvious differences in tolerability between products. Conclusions: Both formulations are effective for the treatment of moderate-to-severe DED and are well tolerated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Membrane distillation (MD) is an emerging technology for water recovery from hypersaline wastewater. Membrane scaling and wetting are the drawbacks that prevent the widespread implementation of the MD process. In this study, coaxially electrospun polyvinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene (PVDF-co-HFP) nanofibrous membranes were fabricated with re-entrant architecture and enhanced hydrophobicity/omniphobicity. The multiscale roughness was constructed by incorporating Al2O3 nanoparticles and 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H Perfluorodecyltriethoxysilane in the sheath solution. High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) could confirm the formation of the core-sheath nanofibrous membranes, which exhibited a water contact angle of ~142.5° and enhanced surface roughness. The membrane displayed a stable vapor flux of 12 L.m−2.h−1 (LMH) for a 7.0 wt.% NaCl feed solution and no loss in permeate quality or quantity. Long-term water recovery from 10.5 wt.% NaCl feed solution was determined to be 8–10 LMH with >99.9% NaCl rejection for up to 5 cycles of operation (60 h). The membranes exhibited excellent resistance to wetting even above the critical micelle concentration (CMC) for surfactants in the order sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) (16 mM) > cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) (1.5 mM) > Tween 80 (0.10 mM). The presence of salts further deteriorated membrane performance for SDS (12 mM) and Tween-80 (0.05 mM). These coaxial electrospun nanofibrous membranes are robust and can be explored for long-term applications.

Purpose: Owing to its noninvasive nature, broad-spectrum effectiveness, minimal bacterial resistance, and high efficiency, phototherapy has significant potential for antibiotic-free antibacterial interventions and combating antibacterial biofilms. However, finding effective strategies to mitigate the detrimental effects of excessive temperature and elevated concentrations of reactive oxygen species (ROS) remains a pressing issue that requires immediate attention., Methods: In this study, we designed a pH-responsive cationic polymer sodium nitroside dihydrate/branched polyethylenimine-indocyanine green@polyethylene glycol (SNP/PEI-ICG@PEG) nanoplatform using the electrostatic adsorption method and Schiff's base reaction. Relevant testing techniques were applied to characterize and analyze SNP/PEI-ICG@PEG, proving the successful synthesis of the nanomaterials. In vivo and in vitro experiments were performed to evaluate the antimicrobial properties of SNP/PEI-ICG@PEG., Results: The morphology and particle size of SNP/PEI-ICG@PEG were observed via TEM. The zeta potential and UV-visible (UV-vis) results indicated the synthesis of the nanomaterials. The negligible cytotoxicity of up to 1 mg/mL of SNP/PEI-ICG@PEG in the presence or absence of light demonstrated its biosafety. Systematic in vivo and in vitro antimicrobial assays confirmed that SNP/PEI-ICG@PEG had good water solubility and biosafety and could be activated by near-infrared (NIR) light and synergistically treated using four therapeutic modes, photodynamic therapy (PDT), gaseous therapy (GT), mild photothermal therapy (PTT, 46 °C), and cation. Ultimately, the development of Gram-positive (G + ) Staphylococcus aureus ( S. aureus ) and Gram-negative (G - ) Escherichia coli ( E. coli ) were both completely killed in the free state, and the biofilm that had formed was eliminated., Conclusion: SNP/PEI-ICG@PEG demonstrated remarkable efficacy in achieving controlled multimodal synergistic antibacterial activity and biofilm infection treatment. The nanoplatform thus holds promise for future clinical applications., Competing Interests: The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work., (© 2024 Li et al.)