To comparatively evaluate the effects of four low-abrasive air-polishing powders (glycine, erythritol, trehalose, and sodium bicarbonate) on root surface roughness and substance loss in an ex vivo model. 210 specimens from 105 human teeth were randomly allocated to four treatment groups (n = 50); 10 additional specimens served for measurement error analysis. Air-polishing was performed using glycine (25 μm), erythritol (14 μm), trehalose (30 μm), or sodium bicarbonate (40 μm). Three-dimensional surface topography was assessed by laser scanning microscopy before and after treatment using ISO 25,178 roughness parameters. Data were analyzed using rank-based ANCOVA with tooth type and surface location as covariates. Post-treatment average roughness differed significantly between groups (p < 0.001, η2p = 0.217). Glycine (8.23 [5.45; 14.13] µm) and erythritol (6.65 [4.61; 10.22] µm) produced significantly higher values than trehalose (4.38 [2.87; 5.42] µm) and sodium bicarbonate (3.82 [2.83; 5.79] µm). Erythritol generated the most pronounced increases in valley depth and peak height. All groups showed negative skewness trends. No significant differences in substance loss were detected. Glycine and erythritol produced greater surface roughness than trehalose and sodium bicarbonate under the tested device configuration, while all powders demonstrated minimal substance loss, supporting their safety for subgingival application. Glycine and erythritol produced greater surface topographical changes compared to trehalose and sodium bicarbonate, which may reflect more pronounced powder-surface interaction; whether this translates into superior debridement efficacy requires direct microbiological investigation. The comparable and minimal substance loss across all powders supports their safety for repeated subgingival application.
Red pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is nutritionally important and economically valuable in Ethiopia. As it is highly vulnerable, mycotoxin contamination was evaluated in 124 household-produced red pepper powders. Also knowledge and practices among these households were evaluated. Samples were collected at the time of processing and pooled into 40 composite samples, which were split into two 100-gram portions of which one was analysed immediately and the other stored at room temperature for six months. Twenty-six mycotoxins were determined using a validated UHPLC-MS/MS method, of which ten were detected both at production and after storage, with levels ranging from <LOD to 154 µg/kg initially and <LOD to 90 µg/kg after 6 months storage. At production 92.5% and after storage 75% of the samples exceeded the EU limit for AFB1. Several mycotoxins showed significant declines during storage. Findings underscore the need for improved prevention strategies and further research on storage-related detoxification mechanisms.
PurposeThis study aims to evaluate the antioxidant, antibacterial, and wound-healing properties of powders from Cytisus triflorus and Teucrium polium, plants endemic to Algeria harvested during two phenological stages and for enhancing wound care using a rat wound model.MethodsPhytochemical characterization of powders has involved: total phenol, flavonoids and condensed tannins content, as well as the carbohydrates composition. Such investigation was supported by their efficiency as antibacterial and antioxidant determined by different test systems, namely DPPH radicals scavenging activity, reducing power and β-carotene bleaching assay. In this regard, a rat excision wound model was used to assess wound healing. Wound contraction, hydroxyproline contents and histological evaluation were performed.ResultsPowders from studied plants differed predominantly in their total phenol, flavonoids and condensed tannins content as well as the carbohydrates composition between phenological stages. Indeed, the powders from both plants harvested at the flowering stage showed a potential antioxidant activity and exhibited significant antibacterial activity against Gram positive bacteria. After twelve days of treatment in excision wound model, wound contractions for Cfl'Ont and Tfl'Ont ointments mention a value of 100% which it showed highly significant temporal reduction in those wounds area (P < .01) followed by Cfr'Ont and Tfr'Ont ointments with 98.11%, 96.88%, decreased epithelialization time, arranged derma and increased hydroxyproline content over the reference groups during the trial.ConclusionOur findings have proved, for the first time, scientific evidence of the efficiency of Algerian plants namely Cytisus triflorus L'Her and Teucrium polium to possess a remarkable wound healing activities supporting the folkloric assertion.
Three-dimensional (3D) printing technologies are increasingly used in the fabrication of space maintainers in pediatric dentistry. However, studies on improving the properties of space maintainer materials produced by digital methods remain limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of a 3D printing resin modified with glass ionomer cement powders as a new-generation composite space maintainer material for pediatric dentistry in terms of mechanical properties. This study addresses the question of whether a 3D printing resin modified with glass ionomer cement powders can serve as a new-generation space maintainer material with favorable mechanical properties. Two different glass ionomer cement powders as fluoride sources were added to a 3D printing resin at different concentrations, and four experimental groups were formed. Unmodified resin was used as the control group, while acrylic was used as the clinical reference group. Mechanical properties of the composite space maintainers were assessed using three-point bending and tensile tests. Groups with lower filler levels generally exhibited a more balanced mechanical performance. In the tensile analysis, filler type had a significant effect on maximum stress (p = 0.0135), while filler level had a significant effect on maximum stress (p < 0.0001), maximum strain (p = 0.0191), and elastic modulus (p < 0.0001). Low-level filler groups showed mechanical behavior closer to that of the acrylic reference material. The addition of glass ionomer powder altered the mechanical behavior depending on the filler ratio. Low filler levels provided better preservation of mechanical properties. Although these materials show potential as new-generation space maintainers in pediatric dentistry, further in vitro and in vivo studies are required to confirm their clinical applicability.
The inhaled p38 α/β mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitor PF-03715455 is an example of "inhalation by design" pharmacologically active substance which maximize pulmonary residence and local efficacy, demonstrating a slow absorption rate and a prolonged pulmonary retention. However, for dry powder inhalers dissolution in the pulmonary lining fluid can become the rate-limiting step for drug absorption and bioavailability. The present study investigated the relationship between in vitro dissolution and in vivo pulmonary pharmacokinetics of two micronized PF-03715455 powders with different solid state, amorphous vs pseudo-crystalline. Powders were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and aerosol performance analysis using the PreciseInhale® coupled with cascade impactor. Dissolution studies were performed with RespiCell® apparatus directly on the respirable fraction obtained from PreciseInhale® aerosolization. Pulmonary pharmacokinetics were then evaluated following intratracheal administration in rats. Both formulations exhibited comparable aerodynamic properties. However, marked differences were observed in dissolution behavior. After 8 h, only 3% of the amorphous powder and 0.4% of the pseudo-crystalline powder dissolved, confirming the extremely low aqueous solubility of the compound. These differences strongly influenced in vivo performance. The amorphous formulation showed enhanced systemic exposure and faster decline of lung concentrations, whereas the pseudo-crystalline powder exhibited prolonged pulmonary retention with minimal plasma exposure. The results demonstrated a clear correlation between dissolution rate and pulmonary absorption kinetics. Overall, the study highlights the critical role of dissolution testing in predicting the in vivo behavior of poorly soluble inhaled drugs and supports the use of biologically relevant in vitro dissolution methods during early-stage formulation development.
In this study, a series of (LaxYb1-x)2Zr2O7 powders with [Formula: see text] were synthesized by a co-precipitation method to investigate the effect of rare earth (RE) site substitution (La3⁺ and Yb3⁺) on phase stability, structural disorder, and high-temperature sintering behavior for thermal barrier coating (TBC) applications. The synthesized powders were characterized using TG/DTA, XRD, Raman spectroscopy, FTIR, FESEM, and EDS before and after calcination at 1000 and 1300 °C, as well as after prolonged heat treatment at 1300 °C for up to 50 h. The results showed a clear composition-dependent transition from ordered pyrochlore in La-rich samples to defect fluorite in Yb-rich samples, while intermediate compositions exhibited mixed-phase behavior and peak broadening associated with increased lattice disorder. Raman and XRD analyses confirmed that prolonged heat treatment improved crystallinity and promoted phase ordering in La-rich compositions, whereas Yb-rich compositions retained predominantly defect fluorite character. FESEM observations revealed noticeable grain growth after calcination and heat treatment, with La-rich compositions showing better resistance to coarsening than Yb-rich ones. Overall, the La-Yb zirconate system demonstrates that compositional tuning at the RE site is an effective strategy for balancing phase stability and sintering resistance in advanced TBC materials.
(Bi,Sb)2(S,Se)3 chalcogenides form a versatile class of semiconductors that have recently gained attention for photovoltaic (PV) energy conversion and short-wavelength (SWIR) to mid-infrared (MIR) sensors. These materials have a number of favourable properties, including suitable and tunable band gaps, the use of non-toxic and non-scarce elements, and compatibility with low-temperature fabrication routes. An important feature of these materials is their anisotropic opto-electrical behaviour, which makes crystallographic orientation a critical parameter for device performance. In this contribution, we first review the various synthesis routes and alloying strategies used for this material family, and we discuss the relationship between directional growth and device efficiency. A full range of Bi-Sb-S-Se compositions with band gaps targeted for both short-SWIR sensing and PV applications has been prepared by thermal evaporation of Sb2Se3, Bi2Se3 and Sb2S3 powders, followed by post-annealing under different temperatures and atmospheres. Transmission and photoluminescence measurements were used to determine the band gaps, while X-ray diffraction analysis provided insight into crystalline phases, alloy formation, and potential secondary phases. The high-band-gap Sb2S3 was alloyed with small amounts of Ag, resulting in a slight decrease in band gap and modifications to the microstructure. For SWIR applications, Sb2Se3 was alloyed with Bi2Se3 to reduce the band gap of pure Sb2Se3 (≈1.17 eV). However, the band gap could not be decreased beyond approximately 0.9 eV, due to the limited solubility of Bi in the orthorhombic Sb2Se3 lattice. At higher Bi concentrations, rhombohedral Bi2Se3 phases were formed, preventing further band-gap tuning. Initial device measurements showed diode behaviour and a measurable photoresponse, providing a promising starting point for optimization.
Zero-dimensional manganese-based halides are distinguished by their advantages, such as high luminescence efficiency, tunable spectra, and straightforward preparation. However, the challenge of synergistically enhancing their luminescence and thermal stability remains a critical issue. Here, we synthesized a novel Mn(II)-based metal halide of (Meop)2MnBr4 (Meop = 1-(2-methoxyphenyl)piperazine). Characterized by a distinct d-d transition of Mn2+, this material demonstrates a narrow-band green emission centered at 521 nm. It emits with a full width at half-maximum of merely 41 nm and achieves a near-unity photoluminescence quantum yield (99%). In addition, the color purity of (Meop)2MnBr4 was calculated to be 71.09%, which is higher than the 53.21% of the commercial phosphor β-sialon:Eu2+. Benefiting from its structure, (Meop)2MnBr4 demonstrates outstanding thermal stability, with its photoluminescence intensity at 430 K remaining 93% of the original value at 305 K. Based on the above advantages, we fabricated a white LED device using the (Meop)2MnBr4 powders. The WLED yields a luminous efficacy of 90.35 lm·W-1 alongside a broad NTSC color gamut coverage of 105.7%. This work not only provides new light on the synthesis of high-performance luminescent materials but also paves the way for their practical deployment.
Amorphous solid dispersion (ASD) is a widely used formulation strategy for enhancing the solubility of poorly water-soluble drugs; however, ensuring sufficient drug-polymer miscibility remains a practical challenge because microscopic inhomogeneity can accelerate crystallization and undermine product quality. Although nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxation has been explored as a nondestructive tool for characterizing ASD structure, its application has primarily been limited to qualitative assessments. This study develops a practical empirical approach using fitting-error indices to compare ASD homogeneity using time-domain NMR (TD-NMR) with a low-field benchtop instrument. First, two model ASDs of probucol and polyvinylpyrrolidone with distinct homogeneity levels were prepared, and their microscopic homogeneity was subsequently compared using error indices derived from monoexponential fitting of 1H T1 relaxation. Second, to assess applicability under realistic storage conditions, humidified storage was used to induce phase separation and crystallization, and the ability of TD-NMR to monitor these changes was assessed. The TD-NMR results were consistent with powder X-ray diffraction and modulated differential scanning calorimetry measurements. These findings suggest that TD-NMR provides a rapid, nondestructive, and practical tool for empirically monitoring homogeneity-related changes and structural deterioration in ASD powders.
The spin Seebeck effect enables thermoelectric conversion through thermally generated spin currents in magnetic materials, offering a promising transverse geometry for scalable devices. However, conventional spin Seebeck devices are confined to nanoscale thin-film architectures, with significantly restricted output power due to the intrinsic constraints of spin and magnon diffusion lengths. Here, we demonstrate a trans-scale spin Seebeck effect using nanostructured bulk composites composed of Pt-coated yttrium iron garnet powders fabricated via dynamic powder sputtering and low-temperature sintering. The resulting three-dimensional composites exhibit continuous Pt channels and robust mechanical integrity. Transverse thermoelectric measurements reveal isotropic spin Seebeck signals at the bulk scale. Power analysis indicates that the three-dimensional architecture enables scalable volumetric thermoelectric power generation beyond diffusion-limited thin-film spin Seebeck geometries. This work establishes a scalable platform for spin Seebeck thermoelectric conversion, bridging nanoscale spin caloritronics with macroscopic device integration.
Three-dimensional (3D) iodide double-perovskite (elpasolite) semiconductors have attracted interest as potential lead-free metal-halide absorber layers for solar applications. Although studied extensively by computational methods, they have remained largely inaccessible synthetically, consistent with their predicted thermodynamic instability. Here, we report the first synthesis of bulk Cs2AgBiI6, demonstrating both microcrystalline and thin-film forms. Microcrystalline powders of Cs2AgBiI6 were prepared via anion exchange from phase-pure Cs2AgBiBr6 microcrystals. The resulting iodide elpasolite shows broad absorption throughout the visible with a 1.70 ± 0.05 eV optical bandgap and near-infrared photoluminescence centered at 1.03 eV. We identify the elimination of trace moisture in bulk Cs2AgBiBr6 as the critical factor enabling complete halide exchange and isolation of bulk Cs2AgBiI6 with phase purity. In inert atmosphere, microcrystalline Cs2AgBiI6 shows no decomposition when stored for months at room temperature or heated to ∼70 °C, and it appears equally stable in dry air. Building upon these insights, we then demonstrate the preparation of phase-pure Cs2AgBiI6 films by flash thermal evaporation of Cs2AgBiBr6 followed by anion exchange. Photoconductivity measurements on such Cs2AgBiI6 films demonstrate photocarrier generation and transport, marking the first optoelectronic measurement on this elusive 3D iodide double perovskite.
Diabetes is one of the major civilization diseases of the 21st century. Effective glucose monitoring is a crucial diagnostic method for its active prevention. In addition to widely used enzyme-based sensors, nonenzymatic sensing solutions are being actively developed. The highest sensing performance has been reported for cobalt-containing compounds (i.e., Co3O4), but certain challenges related to availability and cost necessitate the search for alternative materials. The paper presents the electrocatalytic performance of nickel-doped manganese-copper spinel oxides for glucose detection in aqueous solutions. The spinel oxides were doped with nickel in various mass ratios: CuMn2O4, CuMn2‑x Ni-( x = 0.3,0.6,0.9)-O4. Structural analysis was performed to determine their crystalline properties, and the influence of the nickel content on the electrocatalytic activity was systematically investigated. It was found that the amount of nickel significantly affected the sensing properties of the synthesized powders. The most active samples exhibited a sensitivity of approximately 695 μA mM-1 cm-2 in the linearity range of 0.02-0.1 mM and 406 μA mM-1 cm-2 in the range of 0.2-1 mM. Electrochemical measurements were further extended to determine selectivity for commonly occurring interfering compounds. Additionally, operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy was used to monitor changes in the oxidation states of electrochemically active elements during the glucose oxidation reaction. Theoretical density of states confirmed that nickel doping enhances glucose adsorption and improves the material's catalytic properties. This work revealed that the Mn3+/Mn4+ redox pair acts as the dominant electroactive center during glucose oxidation, whereas nickel primarily functions as an electronic structure modulator, stabilizing Mn4+-rich surface species. The combined operando and theoretical analyses show how Ni addition influences glucose adsorption, charge transfer, and electrocatalytic glucose oxidation in Mn-based spinel oxides.
To address the challenges of fragmented processes and low-value recovery of spent LiFePO4 (SLFP) batteries, this study developed an integrated closed-loop process for the high-value recovery of mixed cathode and anode powders through acid leaching, oxidation, and extraction coupling. Under optimal conditions (4 mol L-1 HCl, 60 °C), the simultaneous leaching efficiencies of Li, Fe, and P reached 99.96%, 99.93%, and 98.64%, respectively, while graphite was efficiently separated from the mixed powder. After oxidizing Fe(II) to Fe(III) in the leachate using H2O2, a trioctylamine (TOA)/n-Octanol/kerosene system (30 vol% TOA/20 vol% n-Octanol) was employed for selective extraction of Fe(III), achieving an extraction efficiency of 98.90% and a separation factor βFe/Cu of 531.44. Notably, n-Octanol acts as both a phase modifier and an anti-synergistic agent, suppressing impurity co-extraction and enhancing Fe selectivity. By constructing an innovative H3PO4/(NH4)2HPO4 stripping system, coordination competition drove in-situ formation of battery-grade FePO4·2H2O (purity 99.67%). High-purity Li3PO4 (99.91%) was subsequently recovered from the raffinate after cyclic enrichment. Mechanistic analysis demonstrated an ion-pair association mechanism, in which Fe(III) forms [FeCl4]- and is subsequently bound by two protonated TOA molecules. The regenerated LiFePO4 delivered an initial discharge capacity of 141.32 mAh g-1 at 1 C, approaching that of commercial-grade materials. Meanwhile, the leaching residue retained an intact hexagonal graphite structure, providing a foundation for anode material regeneration. This integrated strategy offers a compact, high-value, and environmentally sustainable industrial pathway for holistic recycling SLFP batteries.
Flash vacuum expansion (FVE) was applied as a pretreatment to improve the recovery of total phenolic compounds (TPC) from coffee pulp waste. After determining the optimal treatment, the phenolic-enriched extract was stabilized by spray-drying microencapsulation. Adsorption isotherms of the resulting powders (MCE-SD) were determined at three temperatures and fitted to seven mathematical models to estimate enthalpy and entropy using the Othmer equation. Storage experiments at 35 °C under different water activity (aw) levels were conducted to monitor TPC, color, and microstructural stability by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Flash vacuum expansion-treated samples showed a significant (P < 0.05) TPC increase of up to 27.29% compared with the control, mainly due to turgor loss and vacuolar rupture in the pulp. Isotherms exhibited a type II shape, with the Guggenheim-Anderson-de Boer (GAB) model providing the best fit, followed by the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), White and Eiring, and Adam and Shove models. The highest enthalpy corresponded to the monolayer region and minimum entropy zone, where water molecules were more ordered. Samples stored within the minimum entropy zone (aw = 0.24-0.39 at 35 °C) showed minimal TPC degradation (0.62% to 1.45%) and low color variation (ΔE = 0.52-3.39), whereas higher aw levels led to greater TPC losses (21.11% to 38.31%), larger color changes (ΔE = 11.14-50.78), and matrix collapse. Flash vacuum expansion coupled with spray drying represents a sustainable strategy for coffee pulp valorization through the production of phenolic-rich microcapsules. Sorption modeling and thermodynamic analysis enabled the identification of storage conditions associated with maximum phenolic stability, color preservation, and microstructural integrity. © 2026 Society of Chemical Industry.
L-ornithine-L-aspartate (LOLA) is a commonly used drug for the treatment of hepatic encephalopathy. Its commercially available preparations mainly include injections, powders for injection, and granules. Due to the amphoteric properties of amino acids, matrix differences caused by different dosage forms can lead to changes in their ionization forms, thus posing challenges to the development of a universal content method for the three dosage forms of this drug. This paper established a universal quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (qNMR) technique by optimizing parameters such as buffer pH and ionic strength, and collecting one-dimensional hydrogen spectra using the zgpr pulse sequence. Using 0.2 mol/L NaH2PO4 (pH 4.0) as the buffer solution for the test solution overcame matrix interference among the different dosage forms. The validation results showed that the RSDs of precision, intermediate precision, repeatability, and robustness were all less than 1.0%. The average recoveries of preparations were 99.50-99.90%. Compared with conventional HPLC, the proposed qNMR method demonstrates superior universality and robustness, together with distinct merits in sustainability and minimal solvent consumption. Significantly, the method achieved a high AGREEprep greenness score of 0.72, which is considerably better than the HPLC score of 0.38, highlighting its outstanding environmental performance. This qNMR approach enables simultaneous determination of active ingredient content and amino acid ratio across three different LOLA dosage forms with excellent compatibility, speed, and accuracy. By offering a unified, green, and versatile analytical solution, this work could further extend the application of qNMR to the multicomponent quality assessment of multi‑dosage‑form pharmaceutical preparations.
Amorphous solid dispersion (ASD) is a widely used formulation strategy for improving the apparent solubility and oral absorption of poorly water-soluble drugs. However, established commercial ASD manufacturing processes often generate powders with broad particle size distributions, irregular morphology and poor powder flowability, all of which complicate downstream processing. In this work, we introduce a droplet-templated ASD manufacturing process that combines step-emulsification co-processing of a polymer and drug with continuous anti-solvent extraction to produce highly monodisperse ASD particles. We produce intermediate ASD drug powder products with favorable particle attributes, including high monodispersity, improved flowability, and compatibility with downstream tableting. In contrast with prior reports on microfluidic production, this process allows the production of sufficient quantities of powder to enable compression into drug products (tablets). The tablets thus produced meet stringent drug product specifications (tensile strength, extended supersaturation dissolution profile and residual solvent below ICH limits). These results demonstrate that droplet microfluidics, traditionally viewed as a small-scale process, can be leveraged as a promising alternative manufacturing platform for ASDs with industrially relevant throughput for high-value pharmaceutical products.
Decentralized water disinfection in resource-limited regions urgently requires low-cost, solar-driven technologies that avoid chemical dosing and complex infrastructure. Photocatalytic H2O2 generation offers a clean alternative, but practical deployment is hindered by the poor processability, difficult recovery of powdered photocatalysts and high cost. Here, we address these barriers by developing a benzyl-integrated frameworks (BIFs) synthesized exclusively from benzene via a one-step Friedel-Crafts reaction. Despite its minimalist, non-conjugated structure, BIF exhibits broad-spectrum visible-light absorption and efficient H2O2 production (∼3.8 mmol g-1 h-1) via an unconventional interlayer π-π coupling mechanism. To enable continuous-flow operation, we encapsulated hydrophobic BIF into an agar hydrogel using a DMSO-mediated solvent-exchange strategy. The resulting composite hydrogel not only prevents aggregation but also enhances H2O2 production by 1.3-fold through improved mass transfer. When packed into a fixed-bed column, this solar biocidal gel achieves rapid and complete inactivation of E. coli (104 CFU mL-1, typical of treated wastewater) at flow rates up to 52 mL min-1, corresponding to a biocidal efficiency of 1300 CFU min-1 mg-1. With a daily treatment capacity of ∼75 L per gram of BIF, this work provides a practical, scalable, and energy-autonomous platform for solar-driven water disinfection, demonstrating that high performance need not come at the cost of complexity.
Silicosis is typically associated with high-risk industries like mining, making its occurrence in the rubber manufacturing sector exceptionally rare. The advanced form, progressive massive fibrosis (PMF), presents a significant diagnostic challenge as it frequently mimics lung malignancy radiologically and tuberculosis histopathologically. A 51-year-old female rubber factory worker with a 23-year history of exposure to talc-based anti-adherent powder presented with dyspnea and bilateral upper lobe masses, initially suspected to be lung cancer. Six years prior, she had been misdiagnosed and treated for tuberculosis based on the presence of giant cells in a lung biopsy. In the current admission, contrast-enhanced CT revealed large, non-enhancing masses accompanied by characteristic eggshell calcifications in the mediastinal lymph nodes, suggesting a non-malignant etiology. The definitive diagnosis was established through the integration of pathology and polarized light microscopy. A retrospective review of the previous biopsy reclassified the giant cells from the Langhans type to foreign body giant cells, while polarized light microscopy revealed birefringent polyhedral silica particles dispersed within the fibrous tissue. This case highlights the diagnostic hazards of overlooking occupational history in low-risk sectors. Progressive massive fibrosis presents a dual diagnostic pitfall by radiologically mimicking malignancy and histopathologically mimicking tuberculosis.
Obesity often leads to impaired angiogenesis through extracellular matrix (ECM) reorganization, whereas exercise training has beneficial effects on ECM remodeling and capillary density in adipose tissues. However, the relationship between angiogenesis and ECM changes due to high-fat diet (HFD) intake and exercise training remains unclear. To evaluate in vitro tube-like formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) using a three-dimensional hydrogel containing decellularized adipose tissue (DAT) powder derived from the adipose tissues of HFD-fed or exercise-trained (EX) rats. DAT was prepared from the inguinal and epididymal adipose tissues of rats in four intervention groups: normal diet (ND)-fed sedentary, HFD-fed sedentary, ND-fed EX, or HFD-fed EX groups. DAT was incorporated into a three-dimensional hydrogel, and proteomic analysis of DAT was performed. Tube-like network formation was evaluated in HUVECs cultured in DAT hydrogel. Several angiogenic marker proteins were identified using immunoblotting. Inguinal DAT hydrogel from the HFD-EX group exhibited greater development of network connectivity, branching, and length of HUVECs compared to the other groups. Similar phenomena were observed in epididymal DAT hydrogels from the HFD groups compared to those from the ND groups. HUVEC tube-like network formation was greater in the epididymal than in the inguinal hydrogels, with enhanced protein expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2, focal adhesion kinase, and vascular endothelial cadherin. Exploratory proteomic analysis implied fat depot- and intervention-dependent differences in DAT composition. HUVEC angiogenic behavior may be sensitive to HFD- and exercise training-associated changes in DAT composition in a fat depot-dependent manner.
This study reports the preparation of potassium hydroxide-impregnated corn-cob-derived activated carbon (AC500-K1.1) as an efficient adsorbent for the rapid removal of the azo dye tartrazine (TZ) from aqueous solutions. The raw corn-cob (CC) powder was chemically activated at various KOH-to-biomass ratios and activation temperatures to optimise surface chemistry and porosity. Under optimal conditions (1.1 ratio at 500 °C), the prepared activated carbon exhibited an amorphous structure, a BET surface area of 276.34 m2 g⁻1, and a well-developed porous morphology. FTIR, XRD, FESEM-EDX, TEM, TGA, and BET characterisation confirmed the formation of abundant oxygen-containing acidic functional groups (which can also significantly enhance dye adsorption through electrostatic attraction and hydrogen-bond interactions). The batch adsorption studies revealed that the optimum adsorbent dosage was 0.04 g, with a contact time of 60 min, an initial dye concentration of 100 mg L-1, a pH of 7, and a temperature range of 15-40 °C. The adsorption of TZ onto AC500-K1.1 was best represented by the Freundlich isotherm model (R2 ≈ 0.9986), suggesting heterogeneous and multilayer adsorption, whereas the kinetic behavior was adequately described by the pseudo-first-order model. Thermodynamic parameters demonstrated that the adsorption process was spontaneous and exothermic (ΔH° =  - 8.157 kJ mol⁻1). Moreover, the prepared adsorbent exhibited excellent performance, achieving a maximum experimental adsorption capacity of 675.88 mg g⁻1 and a removal efficiency of 95.07% under the optimized conditions. All of them were shown to exhibit much higher stability in regeneration experiments with up to 10 adsorption-desorption cycles and in recycling experiments. For the TZ-spiked real water samples (distilled water, tap water, and river water), significant dye uptake (> 73%) was observed with AC500-K1.1 and was marginally affected by ionic strength. This process establishes its practical applicability for actual real effluent decontamination. Molecular dynamics simulations performed using BIOVIA Materials Studio indicated that van der Waals interactions play a major role in the adsorption of TZ on activated carbon, with additional contributions from electrostatic interactions, hydrogen bonding, and π-π stacking. RDF and adsorption energy analyses further supported the spontaneous and stable adsorption configuration of TZ molecules on the carbon surface. These results provide molecular-level evidence supporting the experimentally observed adsorption behavior.