Applicability of solar photo-Fenton process to the remediation of water polluted with pesticides

Staff PublicationThe applicability of solar photo-Fenton process to the degradation of three pesticides in pure and natural waters was investigated in Fe(III)/H2O2/UV–Vis and Fe(III)/H2O2 UV–Vis oxidation systems at pH 2.8 and 7.2. The pesticides concentrations were determined by HPLC analysis. Furthermore, total mineralization of the pesticides in these systems was evaluated by monitoring the decreases in DOC concentrations with solar simulator irradiation time by TOC analysis. The results obtained indicate that the spontaneous degradation due to solar illumination by Fe3+/H2O2/UV–Vis system is more effective than Fe2+/ H2O2/UV–Vis system in Milli-Q water and river water at pH 2.8. This great enhancement in the pesticides degradation rate in the photo-Fenton reaction system Fe3+/H2O2/UV– Vis compared to Fe2+/H2O2/UV–Vis systems at pH 2.8 is due to the higher rate of ·OH generation in this system in Milli-Q water and river water (4.01 and 5.26 uM/min) compared to Fe2+/H2O2/UV–Vis systems 2.44 and 2.90 uM/min. respectively. At both pH values, the order of pesticides degradation was diuron > fenitrothion > fenarimol which seems to be related with their solubility. Results obtained from this study makes it plausible to apply the photo-Fenton process to the remediation of water polluted with toxic pesticide

The Multifaceted Functions of Prion Protein (PrPC) in Cancer

International audienceThe cellular prion protein (PrPC) is a glycoprotein anchored to the cell surface by glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI). PrPC is expressed both in the brain and in peripheral tissues. Investigations on PrPC’s functions revealed its direct involvement in neurodegenerative and prion diseases, as well as in various physiological processes such as anti-oxidative functions, copper homeostasis, trans-membrane signaling, and cell adhesion. Recent findings have revealed the ectopic expression of PrPC in various cancers including gastric, melanoma, breast, colorectal, pancreatic, as well as rare cancers, where PrPC promotes cellular migration and invasion, tumor growth, and metastasis. Through its downstream signaling, PrPC has also been reported to be involved in resistance to chemotherapy and tumor cell apoptosis. This review summarizes the variance of expression of PrPC in different types of cancers and discusses its roles in their development and progression, as well as its use as a potential target to treat such cancers

Utility of (MgO)12 nanocage as a chemical sensor for recognition of amphetamine drug: A computational inspection

DFT calculations on sensor-drug interactions are necessary for understanding binding mechanisms, predicting sensor performance, evaluating stability and reactivity, and rational design of sensor materials. We scrutinized the adsorption of amphetamine (AFE) on the pure magnesium oxide nano-cage (MgONC) by applying density functional theory. All geometries and single point energy computations were optimized at M06–2X/6–311 G (d, p). Furthermore, we performed an analysis of the natural bond orbital (NBO) and evaluated the values of partial natural charges. Additionally, we investigated donor-acceptor (D-A) interactions and examined the Wiberg bond index (WBI) in greater depth. The MgONC was capable of adsorbing AFE with greater strength with the energy of adsorption (Eads) of −48.19 kcal/mol (for stable configurations). Moreover, the NBO method demonstrated more effective D-A interactions between AFE and the MgONC. Based on the computations, for the most stable configuration, there was a substantial alteration in the HOMO-LUMO gap of the MgONC following the drug adsorption, thus increasing the electrical conductance (EC) of the MgONC. The sensing mechanism is related to the gap difference, which depends on the change in the EC. We adopted the conventional transition state theory for the prediction of recovery time. The computations indicated that the MgONC+ AFE configuration had a short recovery time for the desorption of AFE. Finally, based on our findings, we could conclude that the MgONC is an appropriate choice for the improvement of effective AFE sensors. DFT study of drug sensors will focus on enhancing sensitivity, selectivity, and stability while exploring novel materials and optimizing performance through theoretical simulations and analysis

Mouse models of intracranial aneurysm

Subarachnoid hemorrhage secondary to rupture of an intracranial aneurysm is a highly lethal medical condition. Current management strategies for unruptured intracranial aneurysms involve radiological surveillance and neurosurgical or endovascular interventions. There is no pharmacological treatment available to decrease the risk of aneurysm rupture and subsequent subarachnoid haemorrhage. There is growing interest in the pathogenesis of intracranial aneurysm focused on the development of drug therapies to decrease the incidence of aneurysm rupture. The study of rodent models of intracranial aneurysms has the potential to improve our understanding of intracranial aneurysm development and progression. This review summarises current mouse models of intact and ruptured intracranial aneurysms and discusses the relevance of these models to human intracranial aneurysms. The article also reviews the importance of these models in investigating the molecular mechanisms involved in the disease. Finally, potential pharmaceutical targets for intracranial aneurysm suggested by previous studies are discussed. Examples of potential drug targets include matrix metalloproteinases, stromal cell-derived factor-1, tumor necrosis factor-α, the renin-angiotensin system and the β estrogen receptor. An agreed clear, precise and reproducible definition of what constitutes an aneurysm in the models would assist in their use to better understand the pathology of intracranial aneurysm and apply findings to patients