A novel, eco-friendly combustion strategy is reported for the synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs), employing pomelo and Citrus bergamia peel extracts as renewable green fuel sources. The structural and morphological properties of the NPs were characterized using x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS), fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), brunauer-emmett-teller (BET) surface area analysis, and raman spectroscopy. XRD results confirmed the formation of a hexagonal wurtzite crystal structure. The crystallite sizes estimated by the Debye-Scherrer and Williamson-Hall methods were 30.76 nm and 34.22 nm, respectively. The uniform deformation model (UDM) indicated a very low lattice strain (0.0029), confirming the good crystallinity of the synthesized ZnO-NPs. The study highlights the valorization of agro-waste into high-performance nanomaterials with cross-disciplinary relevance. The study uniquely demonstrates the simultaneous exhibition of antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, along with efficient photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants and successful latent fingerprint visualization. These combined applications underscore the potential of ZnO-NPs, synthesized using pomelo and C. Bergamia peel extracts, as sustainable NPs for environmental remediation, forensic analysis, and biomedical applications. This work further establishes a green synthetic pathway and opens new avenues for the development of eco-friendly multifunctional NPs.
There are serious threats to the environment and human health from the growing contamination of water supplies by hazardous heavy metals, such as Pb(II), Cd(II), Hg(II), and As(III). Despite their sensitivity, conventional analytical methods' field usability is limited by their need for costly equipment and centralized labs. Thus, there is a pressing need to develop portable, environmentally friendly, and extremely sensitive electrochemical sensors. Conventional ZnO nanoparticle manufacturing methods sometimes require energy-intensive procedures and dangerous ingredients. By combining phyto-assisted ZnO nanoparticles with a screen- printed carbon electrode (SPCE), this study seeks to provide an economical and environmentally friendly electrochemical sensing platform for the ultra-trace detection of many heavy metal ions. The leaf extract of Lepisanthes rubiginosa was used as a natural stabilizing and reducing agent in the green synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles. The nanoparticles were drop-cast onto an activated SPCE after being integrated into a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) matrix. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and structural and morphological characterizations (UV-Vis, XRD, FTIR, SEM-EDX) verified effective synthesis and improved charge-transfer characteristics. The PVA/ZnO-modified SPCE demonstrated exceptional electrochemical performance and a markedly decreased charge-transfer resistance. A straightforward cyclic voltammetry method was used to obtain ultra-trace detection limits of 2 nM for Pb(II), 1-50 fM for Cd(II), 1 fM for Hg(II), and 100 fM for As(III). The sensor uses a cheap disposable electrode and green synthesis, and it shows better sensitivity than several published platforms. In order to identify heavy metals in real time, this work offers a portable, extremely sensitive, and sustainable electrochemical platform that connects environmental monitoring and green nanotechnology.
Gliclazide (GLZ) is a second-generation sulphonylurea antidiabetic drug, which suffers from a poor pharmacokinetic profile, especially the solubility issues. Polymeric nanoparticles (NPs) are considered an effective approach for addressing the pharmacokinetic issues associated with BCS Class-II drugs. Combining natural polysaccharides (polysacc) with polymers offers an added advantage. The main objective of this study was to enhance the solubility of GLZ by preparing nanoparticles. In the present study, the GLZ-loaded cherry polysacc polymeric nanoparticles (GLZ-PA polysacc-NPs) were prepared by the modified nanoprecipitation method, and optimization was carried out by Response Surface Methodology-Box-Behnken Design. In the optimization process, three independent variables at three levels with dependent variables (Y-1, Y-2, and Y-3), used by the QbD approach. In the dependent variables, the particle size (PS-Y-1) was between 167.6 to 237.6 nm, entrapment efficiency (EE-Y-2) was 65.4 to 97.84%, and polydispersity index (PDI-Y-3) was 0.053 to 0.392. The optimized formulation F5 has a zeta potential of -33.4 mV, a PS of 167.6 nm, a PDI of 0.053, and an EE of 97.84%. The fundamental physicochemical properties were confirmed from ATR-IR, SEM, and zeta sizer. The optimized formulation showed approximately threefold enhancement in apparent solubility performance compared with pure GLZ and demonstrated prolonged in vitro drug release, with release kinetics best described by the Higuchi model. In comparative dissolution testing, the optimized NPs showed improved overall release performance relative to the sustained-release marketed product. The formulation also remained stable over 6 months under accelerated storage conditions. These findings suggest that PA polysacc-based GLZ nanoparticles may represent a promising oral delivery platform for poorly soluble drugs, although in vivo studies are required to confirm pharmacokinetic and therapeutic advantages.
Anthraquinone dyes such as Alizarin Red S pose serious environmental and health risks due to their high chemical stability, toxicity, and poor biodegradability in industrial wastewater. In this work, zirconia nanoparticles embedded sodium alginate (ZrO2 NP@SAG) films were fabricated through an eco-friendly aqueous casting route for the removal of Alizarin Red. The material is characterized by FTIR, UV-Vis, XRD, SEM-EDS, TEM and AFM. Structural and morphological analysis confirmed the distribution of zirconia nanoparticles within the alginate matrix. The films exhibited similar to 85% removal efficiency at optimum experimental parameters (adsorbent dose, 0.1 g; initial concentration, 1 mM; exposure time, 90 min; and pH, 6.5), with an adsorption capacity of similar to 110 mg/g. Kinetic and equilibrium studies indicated best fit to pseudo-second-order kinetics (R-2 approximate to 0.98) and Fruendlich isotherm model (R-2 approximate to 0.998), suggesting multilayer adsorption. These results highlight ZrO2 NP@SAG films as a sustainable and multifunctional material platform for integrated removal of persistent organic dyes offering a promising solution for advanced wastewater purification in dye-affected industrial sectors.
Brinzolamide (BRZ) is a selective carbonic anhydrase inhibitor recommended for the topical treatment of primary open-angle glaucoma. Despite its promising therapeutic characteristics, BRZ has significant limitations of low water solubility and poor dissolution. To address these challenges, we developed a BRZ co-crystals with p-aminobenzoic acid (PABA). A synthesized BRZ-PABA binary system was characterized by FTIR, Powder XRD, SEM and thermogravimetric analysis. Spectroscopic characterization suggests the presence of intermolecular interactions indicative of a potential new solid phase BRZ-PABA cocrystal. Saturation solubility results revelled that F7 showed a 115.35% and 208.45% improvement in solubility in water and STF, respectively. Similarly, the improvement in dissolution (80.30 % improvement in T50) is shown. The ex vivo permeability showed enhanced permeation rate of BRZ through F7 (411.3 +/- 12.72 mu g/h) compared to the marketed formulation (364.12 +/- 9.26 mu g/h) and free drug (313.89 +/- 6.35 mu g/h). Also, the co-crystals of BRZ showed a good ocular tolerability and comparatively stronger IOP-reducing effect and a faster recovery toward normal values. Thus, the reported co-crystals have significant implications for employing a co-crystallization strategy to enhance BRZ permeability and efficacy in the pharmaceutical domain. Additionally, findings underscored the growing significance of pharmaceutical co-crystals in drug development.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cadmium ions can lead to carcinogenic effects even at sub-ppb levels, which require sensitive analytical methods. In this work, a novel analytical method is proposed for the determination of cadmium ions at trace levels. The method consists a pre-concentration step using Disposable Pipette Extraction (DPX) and employs expanded clay as a new adsorbent material, along with flame atomic absorption detection. Kinetic models combined with adsorption isotherm studies revealed that the predominant mechanism involves the formation of chemical bonds between cadmium ions and the adsorbent. Using the optimized DPX parameters (extraction: volume of 4 mL, pH 7.5, 10 g of finely crushed expanded clay, and 5 extraction cycles; elution: 500 mu L of 0.15 mol L-1 HNO as the eluent, elution time of 30 s, and 1 elution cycle), good analytical features were obtained, including a high enrichment factor value (32), a low limit of detection (0.185 mu g L-1), and good precision (relative standard deviation of 3.1%; n=3). The method was applied to determine Cd2+ in water supply samples, and good accuracy was achieved (with recovery values close to 100%). Moreover, the use of expanded clay as an adsorbent in DPX procedures is attractive since is a chemically stable material and has great potential for pre-concentrating cadmium ions in aqueous media.
A simple, sustainable and cost-effective green route was developed for the synthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuONPs) using Zanthoxylum rhetsa (Roxb.) DC. leaf extract as a natural reducing and stabilizing agent. This phytochemical-mediated approach eliminates toxic reagents and enables the formation of stable, biofunctionalized nanoparticles. X-ray diffraction confirmed a monoclinic crystalline phase with an average crystallite size of 18.34 nm. UV-Visible spectroscopy exhibited a characteristic absorption peak at 418.5 nm, while FTIR analysis verified the involvement of O-H, C=O and Cu-O functional groups in reduction and capping. EDX analysis established elemental purity, along with FEG-SEM and TEM images, which revealed well-dispersed, quasi-spherical particles ranging from 16 to 57 nm. A high negative zeta potential (-34.4 mV) indicated excellent colloidal stability. Notably, vibrating sample magnetometry demonstrated an enhanced saturation magnetization of 45 emu/g, suggesting unusual magnetic behavior in the synthesized CuONPs. Biologically, the nanoparticles exhibited broad-spectrum antibacterial and antifungal activity. Dose-dependent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory responses and significant alpha-amylase inhibition. Also, it shows measurable anti-tubercular efficacy against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Promising anticancer effects against MCF-7 breast cancer cells with improved cytotoxicity toward L929 fibroblasts. This study presents a multifunctional, magnetically responsive and biologically potent nanoplatform synthesized through an eco-friendly strategy.
A robust and environmentally sustainable reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) method was developed for the simultaneous determination of olmesartan medoxomil (OLM) and chlorthalidone (CHLD) in fixed-dose pharmaceutical formulations. The method was systematically designed using Quality by Design (QbD) framework, employing Box-Behnken Design (BBD) to evaluate influence of critical method parameters on key chromatographic responses. Statistical modeling and response surface analysis enabled establishment of a well-defined method operable design region, ensuring enhanced robustness and analytical reliability. The optimized method achieved rapid and efficient baseline separation of analytes within 10 minutes under isocratic conditions with mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and 25 mM phosphate buffer (35:65 v/v, pH 2.4), flow rate of 1.0 mL/min, column temperature of 25 degrees C, and detection at 205 nm. Validation, performed in accordance with ICH Q2(R1) guidelines, demonstrated excellent linearity (r & sup2; > 0.999), high accuracy (mean recoveries of 99.29% for OLM and 100.20% for CHLD), and outstanding precision (%RSD < 0.5%). The greenness of method was comprehensively evaluated using NEMI, GAPI, AGREE, and Analytical Eco-Scale metrics, achieving score of 79, indicative of excellent environmental compatibility. This study presents a reliable, reproducible, and eco-conscious analytical approach that aligns with contemporary regulatory expectations and advances sustainable practices in pharmaceutical quality control.
The two most prevalent respiratory conditions are asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Asthma and COPD are currently treated with inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) and long-acting beta 2 agonists (LABA). Atectura Breezhaler, a once-daily LABA/ICS fixed dose combination, was just licensed to treat both conditions. In this study 6 different environmentally benign, sustainable, innovative and cost-effective spectrophotometric intelligence techniques for resolution of overlapped spectra were used for the synchronized determination of the recent FDA approved (Atectura Breezhaler). These innovative techniques include induced dual wavelength method, absorption factor coupled with modified amplitude subtraction methods, first derivative coupled with amplitude factor methods and first derivative ratio method. These methods were validated according to ICH guidelines, and the results were confirmed to be linear over concentration ranges of 10-35 and 7.5-32.5 & micro;g/mL for indacaterol acetate and mometasone furoate, respectively. These approaches and the previously published ones were evaluated against green analytical chemistry principles using NEMI, Analytical Eco-Scale, GAPI, and AGREE; results confirmed that the current study is environmentally sustainable. The proposed UV spectrophotometric methods received scores of 85 and 0.74 using Analytical Eco Scale and AGREE, respectively. The application of the suggested methodologies in routine analysis inside QC laboratories would conserve considerable time and resources, while ensuring environmental protection and cost-effectiveness.
Reliable and stability-indicating analytical techniques are crucial for the quality control of antiretroviral combinations; however, there are still few systematic Quality by Design (QbD)-based RP-HPLC techniques for the simultaneous estimation of emtricitabine (EMT) and tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (TAF). The aim of the study was to develop and validate a reliable, stability-indicating RP-HPLC method using QbD to estimate TAF and EMT simultaneously. Critical chromatographic parameters were optimized using a 3x2 factorial design. With PDA detection at 269 nm, separation was accomplished using methanol and 0.1% formic acid (69:31 v/v) at a flow rate of 0.9 mL/min. The ICH Q2(R1) principles were followed in validating the approach. The approach demonstrated exceptional accuracy, precision (%RSD < 2%), and linearity (R2 = 0.9996). Its stability-indicating capability was validated through forced degradation studies, which showed distinct separation of degradation products within 10 minutes. For routine quality control and stability evaluation of TAF and EMT in bulk and pharmaceutical formulations, the suggested QbD-based RP-HPLC method offers a unique, methodical, and legally acceptable approach.
This study examines the enhanced pH-dependent spectrophotometric behavior of synthetically prepared thymol blue dye for potential application in gamma radiation dosimetry. Aqueous thymol blue solutions at optimized concentrations were systematically investigated over a wide pH range (1 - 12) using a double-beam UV-Vis spectrophotometer. Key optical properties, including absorption maxima, molar absorptivity, and stability, were carefully evaluated. The optical absorption edge was estimated to be similar to 2.31 eV using the Urbach edge approach, while the Mott-Davis model was employed to determine the electronic transitions, yielding direct and indirect band gap energies of similar to 2.46 eV and similar to 2.19 eV, respectively. The addition of a small amount of ethanol was found to significantly enhance both the sensitivity and stability of the dye solution. A well-defined isosbestic point at 493 nm remained unchanged across both acidic and alkaline conditions, indicating a stable equilibrium between different dye species. The most pronounced spectrophotometric response was observed at pH 3 and 11, demonstrating that thymol blue is a reliable and precise dosimetric indicator (about +/- 2%; 1 sigma), for radiation-induced bleaching in gamma dosimetry applications, exhibiting improved overall performance.
