An article recently published in the journal Scientific Reports discussed the removal of azithromycin (Azr) antibiotic from contaminated wastewater using hematite nanoparticles (α-HNPs), which were biofabricated from a perennial medicinal herb, Echinacea purpurea.
The adsorption studies revealed the Azr removal capacity of α-HNPs from contaminated pharmaceutical wastewater. Additionally, the parameters like adsorption kinetics, isotherm, and thermodynamics were investigated to understand the adsorption process of Azr on the α-HNPs surface.
Anticancer, antibacterial, and antiviral properties of Azr@α-HNPs were assessed, and the results revealed a better synergistic effect of Azr@α-HNP nanosystems against Gram-positive bacteria compared to Gram-negative bacteria. Moreover, the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of Azr@α-HNPs was measured to evaluate its cytotoxic effect against HepG2, MCF7, and HCT116 cell lines, and the results revealed IC50 concentrations of 81.7 (HepG2), 78.1 (MCF7), and 93.4 (HCT116) microgram per milliliter, respectively.
Thermodynamic studies confirmed that the adsorption of Azr on α-HNPs was via a spontaneous endothermic chemisorption process. Furthermore, the antiviral activity of Azr@α-HNP nanosystem against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) showed a safety therapeutic index of 25.4, suggesting its promising antiviral activity.
Nanomaterials Towards Wastewater Treatment
Antibiotics of the macrolide family (Azr) and cephalosporin family (ceftriaxone and cefixime) are used in treating cancerous and viral diseases. The unique physicochemical properties of nanomaterials offer advantages in designing nanocarriers to carry various drugs efficiently inside a biological system. Thus, loading the antibiotics into biocompatible nanomaterials could result in effective drug delivery systems.
The growing demand for macrolide and cephalosporin antibiotics resulted in their production in large quantities. Consequently, the wastewater from pharmaceutical factories and hospitals contaminated with antibiotics pollute the aquatic environment on entering water bodies. Furthermore, the excess presence of antibiotics in the human body may cause necrosis of the renal tubules and induce antibiotic resistance.
Removal of Azr is possible via physicochemical methods such as advanced oxidation using ozone and the photodegradation process. Adsorption is a cost-effective and facile process with high-performance efficiency and does not pose a risk of producing highly toxic by-products. It is one of the most effective and safe strategies to remove antibiotics from aqueous environments.
Previous reports mentioned the use of iron oxide nanoparticles in water treatment techniques. Iron oxide offers desirable characteristics such as high adsorption capacity of organic pollutants, high surface area, and magnetizing ability, favorable for water treatment techniques.
α-HNPs and Azr@-HNPs
In the present study, the researchers used α-HNP-based nano-adsorbents to assess the remediation and removal of the Azr antibiotic via adsorption technology. This study discussed the quadruple use of α-HNPs: firstly, as a bioadsorbent to remove Azr antibiotic found in the wastewater from pharmaceutical factories; secondly, using Azr@α-HNPs as an antibacterial agent against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria; thirdly, comparing the efficacies of Azr@α-HNPs and α-HNPs alone as anticancer agents; and finally, in examining the efficiency of Azr@α-HNPs as nano-drug-delivery against coronavirus.
The transmission electron microscope (TEM) images revealed that the average particle sizes of α-HNPs and Azr@-HNPs were 27.8 ± 7.7 and 38.1 ± 9.3 nanometers, respectively, and their median sizes were 25.9 and 39.2 nanometers, respectively. The lowest and highest particle sizes of α-HNPs and Azr@-HNPs were 17.7 and 16.4 nanometers and 49 and 50.5 nanometers, respectively.
The experimental results of the adsorption study revealed that a pH of 10, 150 milligrams dose of α-HNPs, and 400 milligrams per liter concentration of Azr, and a temperature of 293 kelvin were the optimal conditions for the efficient adsorption of Azr on α-HNPs. Furthermore, the thermodynamic study revealed that the adsorption of Azr on α-HNPs was via a spontaneous endothermic chemisorption process and followed second-order kinetics.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the researchers of the present study aimed to use biosynthesized α-HNPs as a bioadsorbent of Azr found in contaminated pharmaceutical wastewater. The adsorption studies revealed that Langmuir was the suitable isothermal model with a correlation coefficient R2 of 0.9992 and maximum adsorption capacity was 114.05 milligram of adsorbate per one gram of contaminant (mg/g).
The results revealed that the α-HNP-based nanobioadsorbent was a promising agent for removing the Azr from contaminated wastewater. Azr@α-HNPs served as versatile nanosystems with biomedical applications such as anticancer, antiviral, and antibacterial agents. The antibacterial studies showed a high synergistic impact of Azr@α-HNPs, especially against Gram-positive bacteria.
Additionally, Azr@α-HNPs showed anticancer effects on HepG2, MCF7, and HCT116 cell lines, and its IC50 was comparatively less than α-HNPs alone against the same cell lines. The present work is the first study that revealed the use of Azr@α-HNPs as an antiviral agent against SARS-CoV-2.
News
Breakthrough for long Covid patients who lost sense of smell
A breakthrough nasal surgery has restored the sense of smell for a dozen long Covid patients. Experts at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust successfully employed a technique typically used for correcting blocked nasal passages, [...]
Scientists Invent Plastic That Can Dissolve In Seawater In Just A Few Hours
Plastic waste and pollution in the sea have been among the most serious environmental problems for decades, causing immense damage to marine life and ecosystems. However, a breakthrough discovery may offer a game-changing solution. [...]
Muscles from the 3D printer
Swiss researchers have developed a method for printing artificial muscles out of silicone. In the future, these could be used on both humans and robots. Swiss researchers have succeeded in printing artificial muscles out [...]
Beneficial genetic changes observed in regular blood donors
Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute have identified genetic changes in blood stem cells from frequent blood donors that support the production of new, non-cancerous cells. Understanding the differences in the mutations that accumulate [...]
Shocking Amounts of Microplastics in the Brain – It Could Be Increasing Our Risk of Dementia
The brain has higher concentrations of plastic particles compared to other organs, with increased levels found in dementia patients. In a comprehensive commentary published in Brain Medicine, researchers highlight alarming new evidence of microplastic accumulation [...]
Baffling Scientists for Centuries: New Study Unravels Mystery of Static Electricity
ISTA physicists demonstrate that contact electrification depends on the contact history of materials. For centuries, static electricity has intrigued and perplexed scientists. Now, researchers from the Waitukaitis group at the Institute of Science and [...]
Tumor “Stickiness” – Scientists Develop Potential New Way To Predict Cancer’s Spread
UC San Diego researchers have developed a device that predicts breast cancer aggressiveness by measuring tumor cell adhesion. Weakly adherent cells indicate a higher risk of metastasis, especially in early-stage DCIS. This innovation could [...]
Scientists Just Watched Atoms Move for the First Time Using AI
Scientists have developed a groundbreaking AI-driven technique that reveals the hidden movements of nanoparticles, essential in materials science, pharmaceuticals, and electronics. By integrating artificial intelligence with electron microscopy, researchers can now visualize atomic-level changes that were [...]
Scientists Sound Alarm: “Safe” Antibiotic Has Led to an Almost Untreatable Superbug
A recent study reveals that an antibiotic used for liver disease patients may increase their risk of contracting a dangerous superbug. An international team of researchers has discovered that rifaximin, a commonly prescribed antibiotic [...]
Scientists Discover Natural Compound That Stops Cancer Progression
A discovery led by OHSU was made possible by years of study conducted by University of Portland undergraduates. Scientists have discovered a natural compound that can halt a key process involved in the progression [...]
Scientists Just Discovered an RNA That Repairs DNA Damage – And It’s a Game-Changer
Our DNA is constantly under threat — from cell division errors to external factors like sunlight and smoking. Fortunately, cells have intricate repair mechanisms to counteract this damage. Scientists have uncovered a surprising role played by [...]
What Scientists Just Discovered About COVID-19’s Hidden Death Toll
COVID-19 didn’t just claim lives directly—it reshaped mortality patterns worldwide. A major international study found that life expectancy plummeted across most of the 24 analyzed countries, with additional deaths from cardiovascular disease, substance abuse, and mental [...]
Self-Propelled Nanoparticles Improve Immunotherapy for Non-Invasive Bladder Cancer
A study led by Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) and the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) in South Korea details the creation of urea-powered nanomotors that enhance immunotherapy for bladder cancer. The nanomotors [...]
Scientists Develop New System That Produces Drinking Water From Thin Air
UT Austin researchers have developed a biodegradable, biomass-based hydrogel that efficiently extracts drinkable water from the air, offering a scalable, sustainable solution for water access in off-grid communities, emergency relief, and agriculture. Discarded food [...]
AI Unveils Hidden Nanoparticles – A Breakthrough in Early Disease Detection
Deep Nanometry (DNM) is an innovative technique combining high-speed optical detection with AI-driven noise reduction, allowing researchers to find rare nanoparticles like extracellular vesicles (EVs). Since EVs play a role in disease detection, DNM [...]
Inhalable nanoparticles could help treat chronic lung disease
Nanoparticles designed to release antibiotics deep inside the lungs reduced inflammation and improved lung function in mice with symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease By Grace Wade Delivering medication to the lungs with inhalable nanoparticles [...]
