Bhekumuzi Prince Gumbi

Postprandial hyperglycemia represents a critical therapeutic target in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), requiring interventions that simultaneously address glycemic dysregulation and oxidative stress. This study evaluated the anti-hyperglycemic and antioxidant properties of Sclerocarya birrea leaf crude extract (CE) and biosynthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). Phytochemical screening, nanoparticle characterization (UV–Vis, XRD, TEM, SEM, DLS, FTIR), enzyme inhibition assays (α-amylase, α-glucosidase, DPP-IV), glucose dynamics in Caco-2 cells, and antioxidant assays (DPPH, total antioxidant capacity, H₂O₂ cytoprotection) were performed. Phytochemical analysis identified flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids, and terpenoids as major constituents of Sclerocarya birrea leaf extract. AgNPs exhibited spherical morphology (36.8 ± 8.6 nm, n = 100 particles analyzed), face-centered cubic crystallinity (crystallite size: 32.1 nm), and characteristic surface plasmon resonance at 451 nm. Both formulations inhibited α-amylase (CE IC₅₀: 14 µg/mL; AgNPs IC₅₀: 14.07 µg/mL, n = 3) and α-glucosidase (CE IC₅₀: 15.96 µg/mL; AgNPs IC₅₀: 15.82 µg/mL, n = 3), showing substantial inhibition, though less potent than acarbose. Uniquely, AgNPs demonstrated selective DPP-IV inhibition (IC₅₀: 220.5 µg/mL, n = 3, p < 0.001 vs. CE), completely absent in CE. In antioxidant assays, DPPH scavenging potency was comparable between formulations (CE IC₅₀: 23.45 µg/mL; AgNPs IC₅₀: 22.26 µg/mL, n = 3), while CE achieved higher maximal scavenging at the tested concentrations. Conversely, AgNPs provided superior intracellular cytoprotection against H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress in kidney cells (80.2 ± 2.1% viability at 76 µg/mL vs. CE 69.8 ± 3.4% at 190 µg/mL, n = 3, p < 0.001), representing a 2.5-fold dose advantage. Neither formulation significantly altered glucose uptake or SGLT1 expression in intestinal epithelial cells (p > 0.05, two-way ANOVA, n = 3). These findings establish S. birrea-based formulations, particularly AgNPs, as promising multifunctional candidates for managing postprandial hyperglycemia and oxidative complications in T2DM. They also highlight nanotechnology-enhanced phytomedicine as an innovative therapeutic strategy.

Microplastics prepared from waste plastic materials were used to study the occurrence of microplastics in informal settlement.

Nanomaterials (NMs) are nanoscale materials of different shapes that are made of a variety of materials such as carbon, silicon, and transition metals. Wastewater treatment plants and nano-enabled consumer products have been identified as major sources of nanomaterials in the environment. Findings from many research studies revealed nanomaterials to be toxic to non-targeted species. Despite presenting an ecological risk to the environment and human health, little is known about the occurrence, formation, transport, and environmental impacts, owing to limited regulated quantitative and sensitive techniques for their assessment. More also, the realisation of nanomaterials' impact on the environment depends on emerging analytical methods. Therefore, it is paramount to continuously develop and optimise analytical methods that are promising to sensitively detect and quantify the nanomaterials in trace and ultra-trace levels in the environment. In this review, we discuss engineered metal/carbonaceous nanomaterials; production, pathways, fate, impact, toxicity, and their analytical methods of detection and quantification from the current literature.

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) demonstrates a unique localized surface plasmonic resonance (LSPR) characteristic compared to their bulk counterpart. Plasmonic properties are useful in environmental monitoring (EM) shown by their successful application in simple and fast detection of emerging contaminants (i.e., pharmaceuticals via colorimetric and spectrometric assays. Ciprofloxacin (CIP) is a common antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections in humans and animals. Therefore, its vast application is responsible for its inevitable presence in hospital and household effluents leading to its occurrence in the environment. Hence, this study is proposing a simple, rapid, and sensitive colorimetric nanosensor for detecting and quantifying CIP in wastewater using UV-Vis spectroscopy. The presence of CIP induces the aggregation of citrate-capped AuNPs, due to its higher affinity tothe nitrogen present on CIP compared to the carboxylate of the citrate cap. This phenomenon destabilizes the AuNPs, by eliminating the electrostatic hindrance and ensures the agglomeration of the AuNPs. A color modulation of red to blue visually detects the change in the parameter, accompanied by an LSPR peak shift. The developed method displays an excellent linear relationship in the range of 0.1 – 2.0 µM (R²=0.98), with a lower limit of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) of 0.39 µM and 1.2 µM, respectively. The analysis of spiked wastewater samples suggests that the method can detect a low concentration of the CIP in environmental matrices.

The shortage of potable water is worsening because natural water resources are becoming more depleted. Desalination technology is lacking in South Africa; this research seeks to fill the gap. KwaZulu-Natal is along the coast; this project is fitting since KwaZulu-Natal ground and surface water is expected to have high levels of salinity. Recent methods used are expensive, inefficient they are unsuitable in 3rd world countries that are developing like South Africa. This work focuses on a microwave-assisted synthesis involving Schiff-Base reaction between monomers to yield a product of a hydrazone-based covalent organic frameworks (COFs) membrane. To confirm the products high scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) were used. The COFs that were successfully synthesised are going to be incorporated on a polyethersulfone (PES) substrate to form a mixed matrix membrane to be applied for desalination purposes and could also be applied for carbon dioxide capture.

The scarcity of drinkable water and depletion of valuable resources are current concerns of the world at large. The excessive utilization of resources leads to their dilapidation, which puts more pressure on the environment. Frequent extraction of resources can negatively affect the environment, and also leads to more waste generated, which is problematic. Scientists have taken an interest not only in developing technical methods to provide clean and potable water in remote areas but also in recovering valuable resources from generated wastewater and sludge, as opposed to disposing of it. The lack of planning and design of reliable methodology to characterize and deploy the most viable solutions in each context has been a problem in resource recovery and not necessarily the availability of technology. This review seeks to provide an overview of the literature on previous studies focusing on resources that can be recovered from wastewater and the technologies that have been used. Future scope must aim at honing the existing technologies and enhancing their efficiency to remove and recover potable water and other resources from wastewaters. This will lead to a greener sustainable wastewater treatment technology with both environmental and economic benefits.