The geochemical distribution and enrichment of ten heavy metals in the surface sediments of Vembanad Lake, southwest coast of India was evaluated. Sediment samples from 47 stations in the Lake were collected during dry and wet seasons in 2008 and examined for heavy metal content (Al, Fe, Mn, Cr, Zn, Ni, Pb, Cu, Co, Cd), organic carbon, and sediment texture. Statistically significant spatial variation was observed among all sediment variables, but negligible significant seasonal variation was observed. Correlation analysis showed that the metal content of sediments was mainly regulated by organic carbon, Fe oxy-hydroxides, and grain size. Principal component analysis was used to reduce the 14 sediment variables into three factors that reveal distinct origins or accumulation mechanisms controlling the chemical composition in the study area. Pollution intensity of the Vembanad Lake was measured using the enrichment factor and the pollution load index. Severe and moderately severe enrichment of Cd and Zn in the north estuary with minor enrichment of Pb and Cr were observed, which reflects the intensity of the anthropogenic inputs related to industrial discharge into this system. The results of pollution load index reveal that the sediment was heavily polluted in northern arm and moderately polluted in the extreme end and port region of the southern arm of the lake. A comparison with sediment quality guideline quotient was also made, indicating that there may be some ecotoxicological risk to benthic organisms in these sediments.
A great effort has been exerted to develop drug carriers aiming at satisfying the requirements, such as safety, greater efficiency, predictable therapeutic response, and prolonged release period. The present study aims at developing the use of zinc oxide nanoparticles as a carrier as a function of particle size for amoxicillin drug delivery system. The amoxicillin-loaded zinc oxide nanoparticles have a good antibacterial activity against infectious Grampositive and Gram-negative bacteria. Zinc oxide nanoparticles have been prepared by wet chemical precipitation method varying the pH values. Particle size and morphology of the as-prepared ZnO powders are characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and transmission electron microscope. Drug loading, in vitro drug release and antibacterial activity have been analyzed. Maximum zone of inhibition is observed for Staphylococcus epidermis. The results show that inhibitory efficacy of drug-loaded ZnO nanoparticles is very much dependent on its chosen concentration, drug loading, and size.
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