Zabol University of Medical Science was established in 1960-61 (Anno Hegirae 1380-81). It is a coeducational, public university, located in Zabol, in the southeast of Iran. It operates under the administration of Iran's Health and Medical Education Ministry. Its programs include Medicine and Health and Science and Technology. Additional programs include Pharmacology, Toxicology and Emergency Medicine.The university enrolls slightly over 2,000 undergraduates (circa 2012, A.H. 1433).
Cerium oxide (CeO 2 ) owes unique attribute that make it a hopeful candidate for various fields, including medical and environmental applications, including cancer treatment and the degradation of pharmaceutical effluents. Herein, CeO 2 and zinc/cadmium dual-doped CeO 2 (ZC-CeO 2 ) nanostructures were prepared via a green approach using Alhagi maurorum extract. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) detected that prepared nanostructures showed a porous morphology. Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) analysis presented the crystallite sizes of CeO 2 and ZC-CeO 2 nanostructures to be approximately 19 nm and 10 nm, respectively. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) supported that the ZC-CeO 2 nanostructures were spherical, with diameters in the range of 10–15 nm. Energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, UV–vis, and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy further confirmed that successful formation and compositional integrity of the nanostructures. The photocatalytic performance of prepared nanostructures was conducted for the degradation of cephalexin (CPX) and amoxicillin (AMX), as laboratory models of pharmaceutical pollutants, at pH 7.0 under visible light irradiation. The ZC-CeO 2 nanostructures exhibited a significant higher degradation rate for both CPX and AMX within 180 min compared to CeO 2 . Kinetic analysis confirmed that the photodegradation of both antibiotics followed a pseudo-first-order model. The cytotoxicity of nanostructures was survey using an MTT assay to determine their inhibitory effects on human breast cancer (MDA-MB-231) and normal breast (MCF-10 A) cell lines. Findings indicated that ZC-CeO 2 exerted concentration-dependent cytotoxicity specifically against MDA-MB-231 cell line. Consequently, both CeO 2 and ZC-CeO 2 nanostructures confirmed that significant cytotoxicity toward MDA-MB-231 cancer cells compared to normal MCF-10 A cells. Overall, these outcomes confirm that green-synthesized ZC-CeO 2 nanostructures are highly effective nanomaterials with significant potential for dual environmental and biomedical activities.
Cerium oxide (CeO2) owes unique attribute that make it a hopeful candidate for various fields, including medical and environmental applications, including cancer treatment and the degradation of pharmaceutical effluents. Herein, CeO2 and zinc/cadmium dual-doped CeO2 (ZC-CeO2) nanostructures were prepared via a green approach using Alhagi maurorum extract. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) detected that prepared nanostructures showed a porous morphology. Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) analysis presented the crystallite sizes of CeO2 and ZC-CeO2 nanostructures to be approximately 19 nm and 10 nm, respectively. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) supported that the ZC-CeO2 nanostructures were spherical, with diameters in the range of 10–15 nm. Energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, UV–vis, and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy further confirmed that successful formation and compositional integrity of the nanostructures. The photocatalytic performance of prepared nanostructures was conducted for the degradation of cephalexin (CPX) and amoxicillin (AMX), as laboratory models of pharmaceutical pollutants, at pH 7.0 under visible light irradiation. The ZC-CeO2 nanostructures exhibited a significant higher degradation rate for both CPX and AMX within 180 min compared to CeO2. Kinetic analysis confirmed that the photodegradation of both antibiotics followed a pseudo-first-order model. The cytotoxicity of nanostructures was survey using an MTT assay to determine their inhibitory effects on human breast cancer (MDA-MB-231) and normal breast (MCF-10 A) cell lines. Findings indicated that ZC-CeO2 exerted concentration-dependent cytotoxicity specifically against MDA-MB-231 cell line. Consequently, both CeO2 and ZC-CeO2 nanostructures confirmed that significant cytotoxicity toward MDA-MB-231 cancer cells compared to normal MCF-10 A cells. Overall, these outcomes confirm that green-synthesized ZC-CeO2 nanostructures are highly effective nanomaterials with significant potential for dual environmental and biomedical activities.
The severely limited reaction rate of Fe3+ with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2, HP) poses a significant challenge in the Fenton reaction. Despite this, the design and construction of the active site are key factors for developing novel strategies in Fenton-like reactions due to the enhanced activation of HP. In this context, understanding the extent of catalytic activity in ferrites-induced Fenton-like degradation has become a critical area of research. Herein, the oxidation process of Reactive Deep Red 150 (RDR150), as a synthetic common textile dye, was investigated using copper ferrite (CuF2O4, CuFO) and cobalt ferrite (CoF2O4, CoFO) nanoparticles, which were pursued after being synthesized through simple operational methods. The CuFO/HP process realized a higher RDR150 (20 mg/L) removal efficiency (97.5 %) under the optimized conditions: 0.4 g/L of CuFO and 3.14 mM of HP within 35 min, as determined by the central composite design (CCD) modeling approach. In comparison, the pseudo-first-order RDR150 removal rate was calculated as 0.104 min-1, 3.6 times higher than that of CoFO. The highly efficient catalytic reaction activity was attributed to the larger specific surface area, where CuFO nanoparticles were uniformly dispersed, as well as the synergistic effect arising from the cyclic degradation mediated by redox reactions of -Cu(I)/-Cu(II), -Cu(II)/-Cu(III), and -Fe(III)/-Fe(II) as the active sites. Both radical (i.e., center dot OH and O2 center dot-) and non-radical (i.e., 1O2) pathways contributed to the Fenton-like degradation of RDR150 in both systems; however, only a minor contribution from center dot OH compared to 1O2 and O2 center dot- was observed in the CuFO/HP system, as evidenced by the tert-butyl alcohol (TBA) scavenging experiment. Moreover, 71.4 % of the RDR150 removal rate was maintained throughout three cycles of CuFO reuse in the catalytic decomposition of HP. The system demonstrated a consistently high removal rate in the presence of several common anions (Cl-, NO3-, CO32-, and HCO3-), except for SO42-, demonstrating the stability and adaptability of CuFO for potential application in natural environments. These results underscored the performance metrics of CuFO-activated HP and provided insights into the optimal strategy for enhancing catalytic performance, elucidating the underlying behaviors and mechanisms responsible for promoting its efficiency.
This study investigates the presence and adsorption of heavy metals (HMs) on microplastics (MPs) in the drinking water and water resources of Zabol, Iran. Sampling was conducted at five stations in Zabol and two Chah-Nimeh reservoirs (CHWRs), the primary drinking water sources, using glass samplers and polyvinylidene fluoride membrane filters. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and optical microscopy identified MPs, while inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry quantified heavy metals. Results revealed that polyethylene, polystyrene, polyamide, and polypropylene were the predominant polymers, with Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, and Ni adsorbed on their surfaces. Iron (Fe) exhibited the highest concentration, reaching 84 µg.L⁻¹ in CHWRs and 85 µg.L⁻¹ in the distribution network. In CHWRs the highest percentage (61%) of size of MPs were between 500 and 1000 μm, while in water distribution network maximum range of obtained MPs were between 50 and 100 μm. The average concentration of the other detected heavy metals were as: zinc (Zn) 43.9 µg.L- 1 and 7.75 µg.L- 1, manganese (Mn) 11.48 µg.L- 1 and 6.5 µg.L- 1, arsenic (As) 20.22 µg.L- 1 and 0.26 µg.L- 1, cadmium (Cd) 3.16 µg.L- 1 and 2.8 µg.L- 1, copper (Cu) 15.18 µg.L- 1 and 0.03 µg.L- 1, and nickel (Ni) 0.10 µg.L- 1 and 2.25 µg.L- 1 in distribution network and CHWRs, respectively. World Health Organization recommended the permissible limit of these cations in drinking water as 10 µg.L- 1 for As, 5 µg.L- 1 for Cd, 50 µg.L- 1 for Cr, 20 µg.L- 1 for Ni, 10 µg.L- 1 for Mn, 500 µg.L- 1 for Zn, 300 µg.L- 1, 2000 µg.L- 1 for Cu and 300 µg.L- 1 for Fe. The study highlights MPs as carriers of toxic heavy metals, presenting significant health and environmental risks. This novel research emphasizes the impact of secondary pollution and water treatment processes on MP fragmentation and HM contamination. Recommendations include adopting enhanced water treatment protocols to mitigate MP and HM risks, implementing stricter quality monitoring at all stages of water distribution, and promoting public awareness of plastic pollution. Future studies should explore the health effects of MPs and HMs, optimize sampling methods, and focus on long-term monitoring under diverse environmental conditions to address this emerging issue comprehensively.
Two new complexes i.e., [Zn(DAP)(8-QO)]Cl (1) and [Zn(DAP)(Phe)]Cl (2) were synthesized and characterized using various techniques (DAP is 3,4-diaminobenzophenone, 8-QO is an anion of 8-hydroxyquinoline, and Phe is the anion of phenylalanine amino acid). The cytotoxic activity of these complexes (1 and 2) in vitro conditions against HCT-116 colon cell lines and normal cells (NIH/3T3 fibroblast cells) were assessed and revealed promising results compared to cisplatin as a well-known anticancer drug. The in-detailed interaction of these complexes with CT-DNA was studied by UV-Vis absorption, fluorescence, gel electrophoresis, cyclic voltammetry (CV), and viscosimetry. The experimental studies in this work showed that these complexes can displace EB and compete with EB at the DNA binding site. Also, a competitive binding assay with the dye Hoechst 33258 as a known minor groove binder was studied by fluorescence emission spectroscopy. Based on the obtained results, it can be suggested that both intercalative and groove binding modes play a vital role in the interaction of these complexes with DNA. The fluorescence studies showed that the proposed mechanism of fluorescence quenching for both complexes is static quenching. The thermodynamic parameters (Delta H & ring;and Delta S & ring;) revealed that the interaction of both synthesized complexes with DNA takes place through hydrogen bonding and van der Waals forces.
