Treatment of Oil from the Oil Industry Wastewater by the Production of a Hydrophobic Magnetic Polymer Nanocomposites

A novel, economic and environment-friendly composite material based on magnetic hollow magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticle coated with a polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) was produced to treat the oil from the oil industry wastewaters. The oils were readily removed via hydrophobic PVP -magnetite nanocomposite. In this study the physicochemical properties of the produced PVP-magnetite nanocomposite were investigated with Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) analysis. The effects of increasing PVP -magnetite nanocomposite concentrations, the effects of separation time, effect of pH on the removal of oil were investigated. The removals of individual oil types with different carbon (C) ring numbers (from C 9 up to C 25) were investigated during oil removal. The reusing capacity of PVP-magnetite nanocomposite was investigated after 40 cycling for oil removal. The removal yields for all pollutants in the oil industry was investigated. FTIR analysis results showed that in the spectrum of PVP-coated magnetite nanocomposite the peak at 2500 1/cm can be attributed to the stretching vibration of C−N and C═O. XRD spectrum of the synthesized PVP– magnetite composite nanoparticle exhibited that the dominant phase of the composite nanoparticle is magnetite with a particle size of 16.8 nm. TGA analysis showed that about 69% weight loss was observed at 500°C and this is attributed to decomposition of PVP. Nonane (9 C rings) and undecane (11 C rings) have high removal yields like 99.99% while the oils with high carbon rings such as, 80% ducosene (22 C rings) and 72% pentacosane (25 C rings) exhibited low yields. The aforementined nanoparticle can be used 29 times to remove the oil with a yield of 99.99%. The maximum CODdis, COD, TSS and oil removal efficiencies were 99%, 99.5%, 99% and 99.90% respectively, via adsorption with 3 mg/l hydrophobic PVP-Fe3O4 / Polimer nanocomposite.

Nanoconjugates to enhance PDT-mediated cancer immunotherapy by targeting the indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase pathway

Background Photodynamic therapy (PDT) may elicit antitumor immune response in addition to killing cancer cells. However, PDT as a monotherapy often fails to induce a strong immunity. Immune checkpoint inhibitors, which selectively block regulatory axes, may be used in combination with PDT to improve treatment outcomes. Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) is an immunoregulatory enzyme and an important meditator of tumor immune escape. Combination therapy with PDT and IDO-targeted immune checkpoint blockage is promising but has been seldom been explored. Methods Herein we report a composite nanoparticle that allows for simultaneous delivery of photosensitizer and IDO inhibitor. Briefly, we separately load ZnF16Pc, a photosensitizer, and NLG919, an indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) inhibitor, into ferritin and poly(lactide-co-glycolic)-block-poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG-PLGA) nanoparticles; we then conjugate these two compartments to form a composite nanoparticle referred to as PPF NPs. We tested combination treatment with PPF NPs first in vitro and then in vivo in B16F10-tumor bearing C57/BL6 mice. Results Our results showed that PPF NPs can efficiently encapsulate both ZnF16Pc and NLG919. In vivo studies found that the combination treatment led to significantly improved tumor suppression and animal survival. Moreover, the treatment increased tumor infiltration of CD8+ T cells, while reducing frequencies of MDSCs and Tregs. 30% of the animals showed complete tumor eradication, and they successfully rejected a second tumor inoculation. Overall, our studies introduce a unique composite nanoplatform that allows for co-delivery of photosensitizer and IDO inhibitor with minimal inter-species interference, which is ideal for combination therapy.

Exploitation of the genetic variability in the genotype of Egyptian Wheat by studding Molecular Markers, Molecular Docking, and Nano Composites. Regulation of leaf and stem rust.

Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici (Pgt) and P. triticina (Pt), the causal agents of stem rust and leaf rust, respectively form new physiological races that significantly reduce growth and yield of wheat cultivars. Therefore, seeking for resistant cultivars and exploring it to continuously produce new wheat cultivars resistant to stem and leaf rust through breeding programs is urgent. The aim of the present study was to assess 18 Egyptian wheat genotypes for resistance to stem and leaf rust. The 18 genotypes were also analyzed for polymorphism using 20 SCoT and SRAP primers. Furthermore, the activity of chitosan-cupper composite nanoparticle in controlling stem rust is examined and its mode of action is studied using molecular docking analysis. In seedling stage, the genotypes were tested against 20 stem rust races, and the host reaction types were noticed. The lowest host reaction types (It = 0; to 2++) were recorded for Sakha 94, Sakha 95, Beni Sweif 4, Beni Sweif 7, Sohag 4, Sohag 5 and Gemmeiza 12. These genotypes except Gemmeiza 12 were resistant to all races. The remaining genotypes were susceptable to most races, but Giza 160 was highly susceptible to all races. In adult stage, the 18 genotypes were evaluated for resistant to stem rust and leaf rust in two different location, i.e. Giza and sids. The evaluation was expressed as percentage of final rust severity (FRS%), Area under disease progress curve (AUDPC) and rate of rust disease increase (r-value). SCoT and SRAP analysis generated 140 and 121 polymorphic band with 97 and 99% polymorphism, respectively. Among them, 71 and 73 were unique loci for SCoT and SRAP, respectively. The 18 genotypes were divided into two main groups depending on the similarity matrix. The first cluster consists of the most resistant genotypes to leaf rust (Giza 171, Sakha 94, Misr 1, Misr 2, Misr 3, Giza 168, Gemmeiza 12 and Sids 12) in addition to two cultivars susceptible to leaf and stem rust (Beni Sweif 7, Gemmeiza 11). Meanwhile, the second ones consists of the most susceptible genotypes to stem and leaf rust (Giza 164, Sakha 69, Giza 160, Beni Sweif 4, Sohag 5 and Sohag 4) in addition to Sakha 95 (resistant to leaf rust but susceptible to stem rust) and Shandaweel 1 (resistant to stem rust but susceptible to leaf rust). Moreover, the 18 genotypes were sprayed with Cu-chitosan composite nanoparticle either before or before and after inoculation with uridiospores of stem rust to determine the effect of this solution and its application method in controlling the disease. The infection was reduced when the plant sprayed 24 h before and 24 h before and after inoculation. Incubation and latent periods were increased in treated plant genotypes. Besides, the treatment gave the lowest infection type compared to the control. The foliar spray application did not affect the efficacy of the tested treatment. Keywords: Molecular markers, Genetic diversity, stem rust, leaf rust, nanoparticle.

The role of morphology, shell composition and protein corona formation in Au/Fe3O4 composite nanoparticle mediated macrophage responses

The great interest in using nanoparticles (NPs) for biomedical applications is transversal to various materials despite the poorly understood correlation between their physicochemical properties and effects on the immune system....