Tran Thi Bich Quyen

Amphotericin B (AmB) is a poorly water-soluble drug with low oral bioavailability and high nephrotoxicity. Thus, this study developed oral AmB-loaded pH-sensitive Eudragit L100-functionalized silk fibroin nanoparticles (SF/EL-AmB) to enhance its oral bioavailability and reduce its renal toxicity. The particles were formulated using two different methods of desolvation and adsorption, followed by thorough characterizations regarding particle size, polydispersity index, zeta potential, chemical interactions, AmB entrapment efficiency, specific surface area, drug release in simulated oral conditions, and in vitro antifungal activity. The optimal formula (SF:EL ratio of 1:3 and initial AmB amount of 0.5 mg) yielded particles with average size of 577.9 nm, zeta potential of −47.9 mV, drug loading efficiency of 77.99 ± 2.35%, specific surface area of 38.969 m2/g with mostly mesopores, and moderate in vitro antifungal activity on Candida albicans with IC50 of 4.09 ± 0.21 μg/mL and MIC of 32.0 μg/mL. Analytical techniques (XRD, DSC, and FTIR) and in silico modeling confirmed that AmB was entrapped within the SF/EL nanoparticles in an amorphous molecular dispersion state via hydrogen bonding and ionic interactions between AmB and charged residues of SF, notably Lys82, Glu98, and Lys62. Interestingly, the SF/EL nanoparticles could protect AmB through the stomach acidic condition and control its release rate in the small intestine based on the formulation methods (desolvation or adsorption). Lastly, the SF/EL-AmB nanoparticles could reduce AmB aggregation forms, which theoretically links to a decrease in AmB nephrotoxicity. In conclusion, the SF/EL-AmB nanoparticles could be further investigated to become a novel product for oral AmB delivery.

This study reports the formulation and comparative evaluation of resveratrol and curcumin dual-loaded chitosan-based wound-healing films prepared from shrimp-derived chitosan (Shrimp-CTS, ~ 80 kDa, degree of deacetylation of ~ 95%) and crab-derived chitosan (Crab-CTS, ~ 100 kDa, degree of deacetylation of ~ 85%). The film was prepared by crosslinking reaction of chitosan and glutaraldehyde, and the influence of chitosan origin on film structure, swelling, drug release, skin permeability, and in vivo wound healing was investigated. Morphological analyses revealed that shrimp-CTS-films possessed heterogeneous surfaces, whereas crab-CTS-films exhibited smoother surfaces. Swelling studies showed that shrimp-CTS-films displayed a burst swelling, reaching 75-85% swelling within 30-60 min, while the crab-CTS-films exhibited sustained swelling, progressively increasing to ~ 100% after 240 min. All drug release profiles followed biphasic kinetics (a burst release phase and a sustained phase) and fitted well to the Korsmeyer-Peppas model (R² > 0.90), suggesting anomalous transport governed by combined diffusion (mainly for shrimp-CTS) and polymer relaxation (mainly for crab-CTS). Ex vivo porcine skin studies confirmed superior permeability from crab-CTS-films, with cumulative permeation values approaching 85-100% at 300 min, compared to 50-80% for shrimp-CTS-films. Lastly, in vivo murine excisional wound models demonstrated that all films showed better healing performances than the commercial product (OctaCare®). Interestingly, the dual-loaded shrimp-CTS-films accelerated early wound closure to ~ 65-70% by day 3 and > 90% by day 7, whereas the dual-loaded crab-CTS-films promoted more consistent healing, achieving ~ 95-100% wound closure by days 14-21. In summary, these results demonstrate that chitosan sources affect the films' physicochemical properties, especially the phase-specific wound-healing outcomes.

In this study, a Zinc oxide/Tin dioxide/Carbon quantum dots nanocomposite (ZnO/SnO₂/CQDs NCPs) was successfully synthesized and comprehensively characterized, and its application as a photoluminescence-based sensor for highly sensitive uric acid detection was explored. Individual nanoparticles of CQDs, ZnO, and SnO₂ were synthesized via a hydrothermal method, while the final composite was fabricated through a straightforward physical mixing approach. Characterization results obtained from UV–vis spectroscopy, XRD, TEM, and EDX analyses confirmed the structural integrity, morphology, and improved surface properties of the as-prepared nanocomposite. TEM images revealed that SnO₂ nanoparticles possessed an average diameter of ≈ 3 nm, ZnO nanoparticles ≈ 50 nm, and CQDs ≈ 22 nm, with ZnO, SnO₂, and CQDs randomly interconnected within the ZnO/SnO₂/CQDs nanocomposites (ZnO/SnO₂/CQDs NCPs). The sensing mechanism was governed by the “turn-on” photoluminescence phenomenon, arising from electron transfer between the excited nanocomposite and uric acid molecules. The fabricated sensor exhibited outstanding analytical performance, including an ultra-low limit of detection (LOD) of 0.085 nM, an exceptionally wide linear detection range spanning from 10^–13 M to 0.1 M, and a strong linear correlation coefficient (R² = 0.992) at the excitation wavelength of 420 nm, attributed to the synergistic interactions among the components. These findings underscore the composite’s potential as a highly sensitive and reliable platform for uric acid detection. This work thus provides a simple, cost-effective, and promising strategy for clinical diagnostics and broader biomedical applications. Graphical Abstract Schematic illustration of the preparation process and sensing mechanism of ZnO/SnO₂/CQDs nanocomposites (ZnO/SnO₂/CQDs NCPs) for uric acid detection. Firstly, ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) and SnO₂ nanoparticles (SnO₂ NPs) were made using a hydrothermal method, while the carbon quantum dots (CQDs) were created with ascorbic acid as the carbon source. The ZnO/SnO₂/CQDs nanocomposite was formed by physically mixing ZnO, SnO₂, and CQDs dispersions. The inset photoluminescence (PL) spectra show a clear “turn-on” effect, where the PL intensity gradually increases with uric acid (UA) concentration from 10^–13 to 0.1 M. This developed sensor has high sensitivity and a low detection limit (LOD = 0.085 nM), showing its potential for clinical and biomedical uses.

Anthocyanins, natural antioxidants found in Clitoria ternatea L. flowers, exhibit instability when exposed to high temperatures. Therefore, to heat-protect the anthocyanins, this investigation produced C. ternatea extract-loaded polymeric (polyethylenimine (PEI) or poly-(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)) functionalized silk fibroin nanoparticles using a green/sustainable process. The nanoparticles were effectively generated using a simple green one-pot desolvation method with simple ingredient mixing, with entrapment efficiencies (>80%), nanosizes (200-800 nm), spherical shapes, and appropriate chemical interactions. Using the standard 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) antioxidant method, the C. ternatea flower extract possessed an IC₅₀ of 0.46 ± 0.09 μg/mL, which was much better than that of standard ascorbic acid (3.94 ± 0.48 μg/mL). The nanoparticles exhibited excellent antioxidant activity (0.65 ± 0.12 μg/mL), comparable to that of the free extract. Interestingly, as analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry, the extract was efficiently protected under high-temperature conditions by being encapsulated in the nanoparticle system. After 4 h of incubation at 70 °C, the DPPH scavenging efficiency of the extract-loaded nanoparticles was ∼85%, whereas that of the free extract was only ∼17%. In addition, the sustainability and environmental impacts of the formulation process were assessed using life cycle assessment (LCA), which showed that our green method was not harmful to the environment in terms of all critical aspects of ecotoxicity, acidification, and, especially, climate change. In conclusion, the polymeric functionalized fibroin nanoparticles could be a potential system for protecting encapsulated drugs/extracts, and the novel one-pot green process for nanoparticle formulation could provide insights for future research.

BACKGROUND: The overuse of dyes is causing serious water pollution globally, becoming an urgent environmental problem. Consequently, studying dye wastewater treatment solutions has become a crucial research field. While durian husk biochar (BDH) is recognized for its excellent adsorption of organic molecules, studies on its combination with ZnO and TiO₂ nanoparticles (NPs) and enhancement of methylene blue (MB) degradation remain limited.RESULTS: In this study, BDH/ZnO/TiO₂ NPs were synthesized via a hydrothermal method using ethanol and ammonia as solvents. BHD was produced through pyrolysis under oxygen‐limited conditions and activated with H₃PO₄ to enhance its physicochemical properties. The resulting TiO₂ (anatase phase, 20–35 nm) and ZnO (wurtzite structure, 100–240 nm) were well dispersed on the porous biochar matrix, which exhibited increased porosity (14.761–34.143 Å) and surface area approximately 5.5 times higher than raw biochar. The photocatalytic and adsorption performance of the materials were evaluated under UV irradiation (365 nm, 100 min) using 10 ppm MB. The removal efficiency of BDH achieved 75.77%, significantly outperforming pure TiO₂ (58.52%) and ZnO (40.38%). The novel BDH/ZnO/TiO₂ nanocomposite exhibited superior capabilities, achieving 98.57% removal and maintaining over 95% efficiency after three regeneration cycles. The adsorption of MB by BDH/ZnO/TiO₂ best fits the Freundlich isotherm model, showing a maximum adsorption capacity of 52.21 mg g⁻¹.CONCLUSION: These results highlight the dual functionality of BDH/ZnO/TiO₂ NPs in dye adsorption and photocatalytic degradation, confirming their potential in wastewater treatment. The study also emphasizes the environmental and economic benefits of valorizing agricultural waste into high‐performance, sustainable materials. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).

In this study, activated carbon (AC) used as a high-efficiency and low-cost for ammonium ion (NH4+) adsorbent was synthesized, for the first time from durian peel by a one-step chemical activation process using phosphoric acid. The effects of pH, contact time, initial concentration, and adsorbent dose on the NH4+ adsorption in aqueous solution were investigated in detail. The as-synthesized AC was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method (BET). As a result, AC from durian peel was successfully synthesized at a calcination temperature of 600oC, phosphoric acid concentration of 20% and an activation temperature of 50℃. The optimal condition for the NH4+ adsorption in aqueous solution was at pH 7.0, adsorption time of 60 min., initial concentration of 40 mg/L, with an adsorbent mass of 0.1 g. The adsorption kinetics and adsorption isotherm of NH4+ adsorption process showed that the adsorption process was fitted to pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Freundlich adsorption isotherm, indicating a physical and multilayer adsorption process. In general, this study provides an efficient, cost-effective adsorbent for NH4+ removal from aqueous solution.

Nghiên cứu này nhằm tái sử dụng vỏ sầu riêng để chế tạo than sinh học phục vụ sản xuất phân bón bền vững, giải quyết vấn đề quản lý chất thải nông nghiệp và thúc đẩy sự phát triển của cây trồng. Than sinh học được chế tạo thông qua quá trình nhiệt phân yếm khí, với thời gian xử lý khác nhau để xác định mẫu tối ưu. Thử nghiệm trên rau muống tàu và cải xanh cho thấy phân bón này cải thiện đáng kể sự phát triển của cây trồng. Việc phân tích bằng FTIR, SEM và EDX xác nhận hình thái và thành phần của vật liệu. Tỷ lệ tối ưu (70% than sinh học, 15% dung dịch nano chitosan, 15% nước ép hành tím) với các thành phần dinh dưỡng C, O, P, K, N, và Mg đảm bảo hỗ trợ sự phát triển của cây trồng tương đương với phân urê, đạt chiều cao 9,5 cm sau 14 ngày trên cây hành lá và duy trì độ ẩm thấp (1,11%). Do đó, sự kết hợp giữa than sinh học và các thành phần dinh dưỡng giúp cải thiện khả năng chống chịu và sự phát triển của cây trồng. Nghiên cứu này gợi ý rằng việc tạo ra phân bón hữu cơ từ vỏ sầu riêng là một giải pháp hiệu quả để quản lý chất thải nông nghiệp đồng thời nâng cao giá trị kinh tế của loại sinh khối hữu cơ này.

Insights into antibiotic-carrier interactions in the silk-fibroin-based nanoparticles and considerations on the formulation process greenness are limited. Hence, this work developed and characterized polyethylene glycol-functionalized silk fibroin nanoparticles for oral delivery of cefotaxime (PEG/SFPs-CTX), with a focus on the in silico simulations and process greenness. The particles were formulated by the two methods of co-condensation and adsorption. Dependent on the processes, the particles possessed spherical shape, smooth/rough surfaces, nanosize (170-650 nm), negative charge (-23 to -30 mV), and drug entrapment efficiency of ∼50%. The system rapidly absorbed the drug within 30 min, followed second-order kinetics, and significantly controlled the drug release rate in the simulated gastrointestinal system, which could bypass the stomach acidic pH. Interestingly, in silico docking revealed that CTX mostly bound strongly and noncovalently with fibroin, particularly at glutamic acid, via hydrogen bonds, van der Waals forces, and π-π interactions, while PEG enhanced the stability of the system. Molecular dynamics simulations confirmed the complex's stability under physiological conditions. Lastly, life cycle assessment analysis showed that both formulation methods were environmental friendly, with limited impacts on the ecosystem, and the adsorption method was "greener" than the co-condensation method.

This study evaluates the effectiveness of Trichoderma spp. in decomposing watermelon rind to produce bio-organic fertilizer. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) with Central Composite Design (CCD) was employed to optimize the cultivation conditions for Brassica juncea using the composted fertilizer. Results demonstrated that Trichoderma spp. significantly accelerated decomposition and improved fertilizer quality. Among the tested parameters, composting duration and fertilization rate significantly influenced plant growth, particularly leaf length and width, while microbial inoculant concentration had no notable effect. Microbial analysis confirmed that Coliform, E. coli, and Salmonella levels were below regulatory limits (ND 108/2017/ND-CP), with none detected in fertilizers produced with Trichoderma spp.. RSM optimization identified the optimal composting conditions as 18 days, 4 wt.% Trichoderma spp., and 50 v/v% fertilizer volume fraction. A high-accuracy mathematical model was developed to predict plant growth responses, effectively forecasting the impact of composting parameters on crop development. These findings highlight the potential of Trichoderma-based bio-organic fertilizers in sustainable agriculture.