Rational Integration of ZIF-8 and BiPO4 for Energy Storage and Environmental Applications

Environmental pollution and energy storage are among the most pivotal challenges of today's world. The development of multifunctional materials is required to address these challenges. Our study presents the rational design and synthesis of a hybrid material (ZIF-8@BiPO4) with dual functionality: an outstanding supercapacitor electrode and an excellent photocatalyst. The ZIF-8@BiPO4 hybrid structure was obtained by conjoining zinc ions and 2-methylimidazole ligands toward BiPO4 by a one-pot stirring route at room temperature. The ZIF-8@BiPO4 resulted in considerably higher specific capacitance (Cs) (489 F g-1 at a scan rate of 5 mV s-1; 497 F g-1 at a current density of 1 A g-1) than that of pure BiPO4 (358; 443 F g-1) and ZIF-8 (185; 178 F g-1) under the same conditions in a three-electrode cell using the 2 M KOH aqueous electrolyte. Afterward, an asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) device was fabricated with BiPO4 as the anode and ZIF-8@BiPO4 as the cathodes, acquiring an outstanding Cs of 255 F g-1 at a current density of 0.5 A g-1 with significant cycling stability (81% over 10,000 cycles). Moreover, the ASC has an energy density of 17.5 Wh kg-1and a power density of 13,695 W kg-1, which can be considered to be at the borderline between batteries and supercapacitors. The photocatalytic activity of ZIF-8@BiPO4 was further studied using a methylene blue (MB) dye and sildenafil citrate (SC) drug-active molecules. The degradation of MB was approximately 78% through the photocatalytic reduction after 180 min of UV irradiation. The outstanding characteristics together with the ecofriendly and low-cost preparation make ZIF-8@BiPO4 appealing for a broad range of applications

Synthesis of Ag and TiO2 modified polycaprolactone electrospun nanofibers (PCL/TiO2-Ag NFs) as a multifunctional material for SERS, photocatalysis and antibacterial applications

In this study, we reported the design and the fabrication of Ag and TiO2 modified polycaprolactone (PCL) electrospun nanofiber (NF) mats. The as-prepared NF mats were fabricated by one-step electrospinning and it was exploited for three different purposes (i) reusable SERS substrate for quantitative analysis to trace organic pollutants, (ii) photocatalyst for degradation of organic pollutants and (iii) antibacterial agent for killing of bacteria. Three different nanofiber mats, PCL, PCL-TiO2, PCL/TiO2-Ag NFs. were fabricated and further investigated. The morphologies and structures of the as-prepared nanofiber mats were carried out using X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) techniques. PCL/TiO2-Ag NFs served as a highly effective SERS platform with a detection limit of 10 nM for the detection of methylene blue dye (MB). A remarkable feature of the presented platform is the ability to reuse the PCL/TiO2-Ag NFs for SERS analysis of MB; availing from its capability for self-cleaning under UV light. By employing PCL/TiO2-Ag NFs nanocatalyst, complete photocatalytic degradation of the probe analytes MB and ibuprofen (Ibu) under UV irradiation was accomplished not more than 180 min. Moreover, PCL/TiO2-Ag NF mats showed a highly promising bactericidal feature against gram-negative Escherichia coli and gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, which immensely emerged due to the presence of Ag NPs. This new trending nanofiber is assumed to lead a bunch of changes in the field of photocatalytic, SERS and antibacterial studies

Nanostructures for the Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment of SARS-CoV-2: A Review

© 2022 American Chemical Society.Scientists, doctors, engineers, and even entire societies have become aware of the seriousness of the COVID-19 infection and are taking action quickly, using all the tools from protection to treatment against coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Especially in this sense, scientific approaches and materials using nanotechnology are frequently preferred. In this review, we focus on how nanoscience and nanotechnology approaches can be used for protective equipment, diagnostic and treatment methods, medicine, and vaccine applications to stop the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and prevent its spread. SARS-CoV-2, which itself can be considered as a core-shell nanoparticle, can interact with various materials around it and remain bound for variable periods of time while maintaining its bioactivity. These applications are especially critical for the controlled use of disinfection systems. One of the most important processes in the fight against coronavirus is the rapid diagnosis of the virus in humans and the initiation of isolation and treatment processes. The development of nanotechnology-based test and diagnostic kits is another important research thrust. Nanotechnological therapeutics based on antiviral drug design and nanoarchitecture vaccines have been vital. Nanotechnology plays critical roles in the production of protective film surfaces for self-cleaning and antiviral masks, gloves, and laboratory clothes. An overview of literature studies highlighting nanotechnology and nanomaterial-based approaches to combat SARS-CoV-2 is presented

A multi-center, open label, crossover designed prospective study evaluating the effects of lipid lowering treatment on steroid synthesis in patients with Type 2 diabetes (MODEST Study)

Objective: It has been suggested that lipid-lowering treatment with the use of statins adversely affects the steroid hormones. However, the safety of lipid lowering treatment targeting very low levels of LDL with respect to the steroid hormones has not been established. Research design and methods: A prospective, randomized, multicenter trial was conducted involving 98 patients. The patients were randomized into 2 groups: group-I received 10 mg of atorvastatin plus 10 mg of ezetimibe and group-II 80 mg of atorvastatin for the first 3 months. After crossover, the first group received 80 mg of atorvastatin and the second group 10 mg of atorvastatin plus 10 mg of ezetimibe for the following 3 months. Cortisol, DHEAS, testosterone, and estradiol levels were measured at the enrollment and at the end of the 1(st), 2(nd), 3(rd), and 6(th) months. Results: Along with a decrease in LDL level, the levels of DHEAS, testosterone, and estradiol decreased in both groups (p<0.001). While cortisol levels were maintained in the group given 10 mg of atarvastatin plus 10 mg of ezetimibe, it decreased significantly after the crossover to 80 mg of atorvastatin (p<0.001). The group initially given 80 mg of atorvastatin measured a lower level of cortisol for the first 3 months and it returned to normal levels after switching to 10 mg of atorvastatin plus 10 mg of ezetimibe. Conclusion: Eighty milligrams of atorvastatin decreased all adrenal and gonadal steroids, where,is 10 mg of ezetimibe combined with 10 mg of atorvastatin had at least no impact on cortisol levels. (J. Endocrinol. Invest. 32: 852-856, 2009) (C)2009, Editrice Kurti

TiO₂ and Ag NPs modified polyacrylonitrile NFs: Antimicrobial, self-cleaning and SERS sensing capabilities for protective clothing applications

The COVID-19 outbreak has clearly shown that significant advances are required in protective clothing technology. This study presents fabrication of multifunctional polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofiber mats doped with titanium dioxide and Ag nanoparticles (Ag@PAN-TiO2 NFs). This multifunctional material exhibited antimicrobial properties, can self-clean under light due to its photocatalytic feature, and allows the detection of pollutants directly on NFs by surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). The multi-functional mat showed a robust killing effect for E. coli and S. Aureus bacterial strains and bovine coronavirus. Additionally, the highly stable and reusable photocatalytic and self-cleaning activities of the mat were examined via the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB). The same molecule could be detected on the same platform at a concentration as low as 100 pM using SERS. This novel design integrated hotspot engineering with strategies to form multi-functional materials that emerge from antimicrobial, plasmonic, and photocatalytic properties

Antibacterial, antiviral, and self-cleaning mats with sensing capabilities based on electrospun nanofibers decorated with ZnO nanorods and Ag nanoparticles for protective clothing applications

© 2021 American Chemical Society.The COVID-19 pandemic has clearly shown the importance of developments in fabrication of advanced protective equipment. This study investigates the potential of using multifunctional electrospun poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) nanofibers decorated with ZnO nanorods and Ag nanoparticles (PMMA/ZnO-Ag NFs) in protective mats. Herein, the PMMA/ZnO-Ag NFs with an average diameter of 450 nm were simply prepared on a nonwoven fabric by directly electrospinning from solutions containing PMMA, ZnO nanorods, and Ag nanoparticles. The novel material showed high performance with four functionalities (i) antibacterial agent for killing of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, (ii) antiviral agent for inhibition of corona and influenza viruses, (iii) photocatalyst for degradation of organic pollutants, enabling a self-cleaning protective mat, and (iv) reusable surface-enhanced Raman scattering substrate for quantitative analysis of trace pollutants on the nanofiber. This multi-functional material has high potential for use in protective clothing applications by providing passive and active protection pathways together with sensing capabilities