Search

Abstract Extrapulmonary tuberculosis with a renal involvement can be a manifestation of a disseminated infection that requires therapeutic intervention, particularly with a decrease in efficacy of conventional regimens. In the present study, we investigated the therapeutic potency of mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles (MSC-EVs) in the complex anti-tuberculosis treatment (ATT). A rabbit model of renal tuberculosis (rTB) was constructed by injecting of the standard strain Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv into the cortical layer of the kidney parenchyma. Isolated rabbit MSC-EVs were intravenously administered once as an addition to standard ATT (isoniazid, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol). The therapeutic efficacy was assessed by analyzing changes of blood biochemical biomarkers and levels of anti- and pro-inflammatory cytokines as well as by renal computed tomography with subsequent histological and morphometric examination. The therapeutic effect of therapy with MSC-EVs was shown by ELISA method that confirmed a statistically significant increase of the anti-inflammatory and decrease of pro-inflammatory cytokines as compared to conventional treatment. In addition, there is a positive trend in increase of ALP level, animal weigh, and normalization of ADA activity that can indicate an improvement of kidney state. A significant reduction of the area of specific and interstitial inflammation indicated positive affect of MSC-EVs that suggests a shorter duration of ATT. The number of MSC-EVs proteins (as identified by mass-spectometry analysis) with anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory functions reduced the level of the inflammatory response and the severity of kidney damage (further proved by morphometric analysis). In conclusion, MSC-EVs can be a promising tool for the complex treatment of various infectious diseases, in particularly rTB.

Water reclamation from lakes needs to be accomplished efficiently and affordably to ensure the availability of clean, disinfected water for society. Previous treatment techniques, such as coagulation, adsorption, photolysis, ultraviolet light, and ozonation, are not economically feasible on a large scale. This study investigated the effectiveness of standalone HC and hybrid HC + H2O2 treatment techniques for treating lake water. The effect of pH (3 to 9), inlet pressure (4 to 6 bar), and H2O2 loading (1 to 5 g/L) were examined. At pH = 3, inlet pressure of 5 bar and H2O2 loadings of 3 g/L, maximum COD and BOD removal were achieved·H2O2 was observed to significantly improve the performance of the HC when used as a chemical oxidant. In an optimal operating condition, a COD removal of 54.5 % and a BOD removal of 51.5 % using HC alone for 1 h is observed. HC combined with H2O2 removed 64 % of both COD and BOD. The hybrid HC + H2O2 treatment technique resulted in a nearly 100% removal of pathogens. The results of this study indicate that the HC-based technique is an effective method for removing contaminants and disinfection of the lake water.

Abstract Over the past decades, there has been an escalating rise in the need for chemicals and catalytic materials to keep up with global demands. Addressing those issues by conventional methods often becomes inefficient, with myriad operational risks. Process intensification methods through procedural and equipment‐based modifications have been considered greener, have higher heat and mass transfer rates, and operate with lower costs. In this review, research using ultrasonic reactors and microreactors, along with developments through an integrated external energy source, for synthesizing acrylic microspheres is covered extensively. Acrylic microspheres have garnered much interest for their biocompatibility, affinity toward functionalization, and wide range of applications. Core–shell, composite, functional‐group modified, and porous acrylic microspheres are used for enzyme immobilization and as catalyst carriers. The use of acrylic support has provided huge improvements in catalytic activity, reusability, recyclability, and overall stability. Finally, various other process intensification methods and alternate support materials are covered to help enhance future developments in the field of catalysis.

Natural products with curative properties are gaining immense popularity in scientific and food research, possessing no side effects in contrast to other drugs. Guduchi, or Tinospora cordifolia, belongs to the menispermaceae family of universal drugs used to treat various diseases in traditional Indian literature. It has received attention in recent decades because of its utilization in folklore medicine for treating several disorders. Lately, the findings of active phytoconstituents present in herbal plants and their pharmacological function in disease treatment and control have stimulated interest in plants around the world. Guduchi is ethnobotanically used for jaundice, diabetes, urinary problems, stomachaches, prolonged diarrhea, skin ailments, and dysentery. The treatment with Guduchi extracts was accredited to phytochemical constituents, which include glycosides, alkaloids, steroids, and diterpenoid lactones. This review places emphasis on providing in-depth information on the budding applications of herbal medicine in the advancement of functional foods and nutraceuticals to natural product researchers.

Abstract This work investigates the effect of a modified nickel‐doped metal‐organic framework (Ni‐ZIF‐67) as a filler on thermal, mechanical, and water vapor permeability properties of environmentally friendly waterborne polyurethane (WPU). The facile and greener ultrasound (sonochemical) technique is developed to prepare multifunctional Ni‐ZIF‐67@WPU nanocomposites, exhibiting superior crystallinity and uniform distribution. The resultant Ni‐ZIF‐67 nanoparticles and Ni‐ZIF‐67@WPU films are characterized by various techniques, including powder XRD, FE‐SEM, FTIR, TGA, UTM, contact angle, and antibacterial properties. Ni‐ZIF‐67@WPU nanocomposites exhibited excellent three‐fold mechanical performance (tensile strength ≈22 MPa) at a very low 5 wt.% filler loading and high thermal stability compared to pristine WPU. In addition, Ni‐ZIF‐67@WPU exhibited optimum water vapor permeability performance at 5.0 wt.% filler with the potential antibacterial application. Demonstrate that the rapid and facile synthesis approach can enhance the interaction of filler and matrix, high surface area, and tuneable pore size of filler material. This new insight has a new green approach for fabricating advanced nanocomposites toward practical utilization.

This article reports on the ultrasound-assisted acid hydrolysis for the synthesis and evaluation of starch nanoparticles (SNP) as nanofillers to improve the physical, mechanical, thermal, and barrier properties of polyurethane (PU) films. During the ultrasonic irradiation, dropwise addition of 0.25 mol L-1 H2SO4 was carried out to the starch dispersion for the preparation of SNPs. The synthesized SNPs were blended uniformly within the PU matrix using ultrasonic irradiation (20 kHz, 220 W pulse mode). The temperature was kept constant during the synthesis (4 °C). The nanocomposite coating films were made with a regulated thickness using the casting method. The effect of SNP content (wt%) in nanocomposite coating films on various properties such as morphology, water vapour permeability (WVP), glass transition temperature (Tg), microbial barrier, and mechanical properties was studied. The addition of SNP to the PU matrix increased the roughness of the surface, and Tg by 7 °C, lowering WVP by 60% compared to the PU film without the addition of SNP. As the SNP concentration was increased, the opacity of the film increased. The reinforcement of the SNP in the PU matrix enhanced the microbial barrier of the film by 99.9%, with the optimal content of SNP being 5%. Improvement in the toughness and barrier properties was observed with an increase in the SNP content of the film.

Metal-based nanofillers are used as disperssants to enhance thermal conductivity for a minimal fuel requirement to extract maximum energy. To achieve this, metal-based nanofillers must be suspended uniformly into jet fuel so that desired propulsive characteristics can be achieved. However, the dispersion of the metal-based nanofillers into the jet fuel is a critical challenge due to the density and viscosity that are independent parameters with a scattered relation. Hence, in the current work, we intended to investigate the propulsive characteristics of the JP-10 (Exo-Tetra Hydro Dicyclopentadiene) jet fuel dispersed with boron particles (BP) at various concentrations. The challenge involved in the current work was to make dispersion stable for a longer period due to the absence of functional groups entailed to BPs. Alongside JP-10, is a single-component, high-density hydrocarbon that can that can exhibit thixotropic characteristic in nature and hence combining with BP makes it difficult; hence, there is a need for oligomerization or the addition of surfactants that are derived from oligomers. Hence, in the current work, the BPs were dispersed in jet fuel by the ultrasound probe with various surfactants, namely Hydroxyl Terminated Polybutadiene (HTPB), Triton X-100, Span 80, Oleic acid, and Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), followed by an investigation of their stability. The experimental studies reported that the stability of the boron was longest, for 54 h, with 0.5 wt.% boron and 0.3 wt.% HTPB at a micron size of the boron particles (325 ± 25 nm). The uniform dispersion of the particles was achieved by the effect of the ultrasound probe. From the thermal analysis, a total weight loss of 25% was observed within a short range of temperatures, i.e., 50 to 200 °C.

Halloysite nanotubes were used as nanocontainers to hold corrosion inhibitors such as Ce3+-Zr4+, 2-mercaptobenzothiazole and 8-hydroxyquinoline in their lumen. An acid assisted etching of the nanotubes was carried out with a view to increase the lumen diameter and thereby, increase the amount of loading of the corrosion inhibitor. The morphology of as-received and etched halloysite nanotubes was observed using TEM analysis. The loading of corrosion inhibitors was confirmed using SEM-EDS and BET analysis. Polymeric microcapsules were used as capping agents for the ends of the loaded HNTs following which, they were dispersed into a hybrid sol-gel silica matrix. Dip coating method was used to generate coatings on AZ91D substrates followed by heat treatment at 130 °C for 1 h. The release rate kinetics of corrosion inhibitors from as-received and etched nanotubes was investigated in buffer solutions of 3.5 wt% NaCl at different pH. The release mechanism of corrosion inhibitors from the HNT lumen was validated using various semi-empirical models. Coatings were also evaluated for their corrosion protection ability using electrochemical techniques after exposure to 3.5 wt% NaCl solution for 120 h. Coatings generated using Ce3+-Zr4+ loaded into as-received halloysite nanotubes have shown more effective corrosion protection when compared to other corrosion inhibitors after 120 h exposure to the corrosive medium.

This study examined the performance of an integrated wastewater (WW) treatment system, namely an electro-Fenton (EF)-sequencing batch reactor (SBR), for dairy industry WW. The EF process was used as the first stage of the SBR. It degrades bio-refractory compounds via advanced oxidation processes, thereby resulting in the formation of simple biodegradable intermediates. Several factors, including the hydraulic retention time (HRT), sludge volume index (SVI), and sludge retention time (SRT) of the EFSBR, were optimized. The effectiveness was studied for 1 y laboratory-scale experiments under stable conditions (HRT of 10 h, SRT of 15 d, mixed liquor suspended solids concentration of 3500 mg/L, and SVI of 89), which revealed 99% chemical oxygen demand, 97% total nitrogen, and 95% total phosphorus removal. Thus, the developed system is economically feasible and superior to other conventional biological treatment systems.

Hydrogen energy is one of the most suitable green substitutes for harmful fossil fuels and has been investigated widely. This review extensively compiles and compares various methodologies used in the production, storage and usage of hydrogen. Sonochemistry is an emerging synthesis process and intensification technique adapted for the synthesis of novel materials. It manifests acoustic cavitation phenomena caused by ultrasound where higher rates of reactions occur locally. The review discusses the effectiveness of sonochemical routes in developing fuel cell catalysts, fuel refining, biofuel production, chemical processes for hydrogen production and the physical, chemical and electrochemical hydrogen storage techniques. The operational parameters and environmental conditions used during ultrasonication also influence the production rates, which have been elucidated in detail. Hence, this review's major focus addresses sonochemical methods that can contribute to the technical challenges involved in hydrogen usage for energy.

This present work reports the synthesis of Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) from cotton using an ultrasound-assisted acid hydrolysis. Further, the synthesized CNCs was comprehensively characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) to analyze surface functional groups and X-ray diffraction (XRD) in studying structural characteristics. Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA) and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) have been used to study the thermal properties of CNCs. Morphology of CNCs was studied using a Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The crystallite size was found to be 10–50 nm using XRD data and the average particle size to be 221 nm using PSD analysis.

Catalysts increase reaction rates; however, the surface area to volume ratio of catalysts has a vital role in catalytic activity. The noble metals such as platinum (Pt) and gold (Au) are expensive; despite this, they have proven their existence in catalysis, motivating the synthesis of supported metal catalysts. Metal catalysts need to be highly dispersed onto the support. In this investigation, an ultrasound approach has been attempted to synthesise highly photoactive titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles by the hydrolysis of titanium tetraisopropoxide in an acetone/methanol mixture. To enhance its photocatalytic activity, TiO2 was doped with Pt. The synthesised photocatalyst was characterised by techniques such as particle size analysis (PSA), XRD, FE-SEM, TEM, and EDX. The enhancement in the surface characteristics of Pt-doped TiO2 compared with bare TiO2 support was confirmed with Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis. The enhanced surface area and uniformity in particle size distribution at the nanoscale level were due to the effects of ultrasonic irradiation. The obtained results corroborated the size and composition of the synthesised catalysts. The size of the catalysts is in the nanometre range, and good dispersion of Pt catalysts over the TiO2 support was observed. The UV-Visible spectroscopy analysis was performed to study the optical properties of the synthesised TiO2 and Pt/TiO2 photocatalysts. An increase in the absorbance was noted when Pt was added to TiO2, which is due to the decrease in the band gap energy.

This study emphasizes on the evaluation and comparison of the anticorrosive properties of sol–gel coatings with and without inhibitor loaded nanocontainers. In this case, naturally available clay nanotubes (halloysite) were loaded with cationic corrosion inhibitors Ce3+/Zr4+. These nanocontainers were dispersed in hybrid organic–inorganic sol–gel matrix sol. Coating was applied on magnesium alloy AZ91D using the sols containing modified and unmodified nanocontainers employing the dip coating method and cured at 130 °C for 1 h in air. Corrosion resistance of coated/uncoated substrates were analyzed using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, potentiodynamic polarization and weight loss measurements after exposure to 3.5 wt% NaCl solution for varying time durations between 24 h to 120 h. Self-healing ability of coatings was evaluated by micro-Raman spectroscopy after 120 h exposure to 3.5 wt% NaCl solution. Coatings generated after dispersion of corrosion inhibitor loaded clay in hybrid sol–gel matrix have shown more promising corrosion resistance when compared to just the sol–gel matrix coatings, after prolonged exposure to corrosive environment. Keywords: Self-healing coating, Halloysite nanoclay, Cationic corrosion inhibitors, Magnesium alloy AZ91D, Micro-Raman spectroscopy, Corrosion protection

The ultrasonic, photocatalytic and sonophotocatalytic degradation of Basic Red-2 accompanied by Nb2O5 nano catalysts were studied. The structure and morphology of synthesized Nb2O5 nano catalyst was investigated using scanning election microscopy (SEM), Electron dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD).The effects of various experimental parameters such as the Basic Red-2 concentration, catalyst dose, pH and addition of H2O2 on the ultrasonic, photocatalytic and sonophotocatalytic degradation were investigated. Photocatalytic and sonophotocatalytic degradation of Basic Red-2 was strongly affected by initial dye concentration, catalyst dose, H2O2 addition and pH. Basic pH (pH-10) was favored for the ultrasonic (US), photocatalytic (UV + Nb2O5) and sonophotocatalytic (US + UV + Nb2O5) degradation of Basic Red-2 by using Nb2O5 nano catalyst. The ultrasonic degradation of Basic Red-2 was enhanced by the addition of photocatalyst. Then, the effect of Nb2O5 dose on photocatalytic and sonophotocatalytic degradation were studied, and it was found that increase in catalyst dose increase in the percentage degradation of Basic Red-2. In addition, the effects of H2O2 on ultrasonic, photolytic, photocatalytic and sonophotocatalytic degradation was also investigated, and it was found that H2O2 enhances the % degradation of Basic Red-2. The possible mechanism of ultrasonic, photocatalytic and sonophotocatalytic degradation of Basic Red-2 reported by LC-MS shows generation of different degradation products

A systematic study was made on the synthesis of nanocalcite using a hydrodynamic cavitation reactor. The effects of various parameters such as diameter and geometry of orifice, CO2 flow rate, and Ca(OH)2 concentration were investigated. It was observed that the orifice diameter and its geometry had significant effect on the carbonation process. The reaction rate was significantly faster than that observed in a conventional carbonation process. The particle size was significantly affected by the reactor geometry. The results showed that an orifice with 5 holes of 1 mm size resulted in the particle size reduction to 37 nm. The experimental investigation reveals that hydrodynamic cavitation may be more energy efficient.