Use of α-cyclodextrin to Promote Clean and Environmentally Friendly Disinfection of Phenolic Substrates via Chlorine Dioxide Treatment

Exploring physicochemical characteristics of cyclodextrin through M-polynomial indices

Cyclodextrin, a potent anti-tumor medication utilized predominantly in ovarian and breast cancer treatments, encounters significant challenges such as poor solubility, potential side effects, and resistance from tumor cells. Combining cyclodextrin with biocompatible substrates offers a promising strategy to address these obstacles. Understanding the atomic structure and physicochemical properties of cyclodextrin and its derivatives is essential for enhancing drug solubility, modification, targeted delivery, and controlled release. In this study, we investigate the topological indices of cyclodextrin using algebraic polynomials, specifically the degree-based M-polynomial and neighbor degree-based M-polynomial. By computing degree-based and neighbor degree-based topological indices, we aim to elucidate the structural characteristics of cyclodextrin and provide insights into its physicochemical behavior. The computed indices serve as predictive tools for assessing the health benefits and therapeutic efficacy of cyclodextrin-based formulations. In addition, we examined that the computed indices showed a significant relationship with the physicochemical characteristics of antiviral drugs. Graphical representations of the computed results further facilitate the visualization and interpretation of cyclodextrin's molecular structure, aiding researchers in designing novel drug delivery systems with improved pharmacological properties.

Preliminary assessment of environmental safety (ecosafety) of dextrin-based nanosponges for environmental applications

The ability to employ waste products, such as vegetable scraps, as raw materials for the synthesis of new promising adsorbing materials is at the base of the circular economy and end of waste concepts. Dextrin-based nanosponges (D_NS), both cyclodextrin (CD) and maltodextrin (MD), have shown remarkable adsorption abilities in the removal of toxic compounds from water and wastewater, thus representing a bio-based low-cost solution which is establishing itself in the market. Nevertheless, their environmental safety for either aquatic or terrestrial organisms has been overlooked, raising concern in terms of potential hazards to natural ecosystems. Here, the environmental safety (ecosafety) of six newly synthesized batches of D_NS was determined along with their full characterization by means of dynamic light scattering (DLS), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy with attenuated total reflection (FTIR-ATR) and transmission electron microscopy (SEM). Ecotoxicity evaluation was performed using a battery of model organisms and ecotoxicity assays, such as the microalgae growth inhibition test using the freshwater Raphidocelis subcapitata and the marine diatom Dunaliella tertiolecta, regeneration assay using the freshwater cnidarian Hydra vulgaris and immobilization assay with the marine brine shrimp Artemia franciscana. Impact on seedling germination of a terrestrial plant of commercial interest, Cucurbita pepo was also investigated. Ecotoxicity data showed mild to low toxicity of the six batches, up to 1 mg/mL, in the following order: R. subcapitata > H. vulgaris > D. tertiolecta > A. franciscana > C. pepo. The only exception was represented by one batch (NS-Q+_BDE_(GLU2) which resulted highly toxic for both freshwater species, R. subcapitata and H. vulgaris. Those criticalities were solved with the synthesis of a fresh new batch and were hence attributed to the single synthesis and not to the specific D_NS formulation. No effect on germination of pumpkin but rather more a stimulative effect was observed. To our knowledge this is the first evaluation of the environmental safety of D_ NS. As such we emphasize that current formulations and exposure levels in the range of mg/mL do not harm aquatic and terrestrial species thus representing an ecosafe solution also for environmental applications.

Environmental safety of nanotechnologies: The eco-design of manufactured nanomaterials for environmental remediation

Nanosafety is paramount considering the risks associated with manufactured nanomaterials (MNMs) whose implications could outweigh their advantages for environmental applications. Although nanotechnology-based solutions to implement pollution control, remediation and prevention are incremental with clear benefits for public health and Earth' natural ecosystems, nanoremediation is having a setback due to the risks associated with the safety of MNMs for humans and the environment. MNMs are diverse, work differently and bionano-interactions occurring upon environmental exposure will guide their fate and hazardous outcomes. Here we propose a new ecologically-based design strategy (eco-design) having its roots in green nanoscience and LCA that will ground on an Ecological Risk Assessment approach, which introduces the evaluation of MNMs' ecotoxicity along with their performances and efficacies at the design stage. As such, the proposed eco-design strategy will allow recognition and design-out since the very beginning of material synthesis, those hazardous peculiar features that can be hazardous to living beings and the natural environment. A more ecologically sound eco-design strategy in which nanosafety is conceptually included in MNMs design will sustain safer nanotechnologies including those for the environment as remediation by leveraging any risks for humans and natural ecosystems.

Comparison of three cyclodextrins to optimize bisphenol A extraction from source water: Computational, spectroscopic, and analytical studies

Computationally and spectroscopically assisted analytical comparative investigation into the extraction of bisphenol A using three cyclodextrins, that is, α, β, and γ respectively, were performed. A simple, self-tailored μ-solid-phase extraction podium was used to extract bisphenol A from water samples, and high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet was used for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of bisphenol A. Density functional theory first principle calculations, attenuated total reflectance Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and Fourier-transform Raman spectroscopy data supports the analytical selection of β-cyclodextrin as the adsorbent for bisphenol A extraction. Analytical optimization of various parameters including sample volume, sample pH, eluting solvent and its volume was performed to discover the most proper conditions for maximum extraction. Under the optimized conditions, a limit of detection value of 0.70 ng/ml and a limit of quantification value of 2.31 ng/ml was achieved with β-cyclodextrin, with recovery (%) values over 98.40-102.50 in real source water samples. Overall, well assisted by comprehensive computational and spectroscopic studies, a novel, simple, sensitive and economic analytical method was developed for the extraction of bisphenol A from source water using cyclodextrin.