Fourier-transform mid-infrared mapping and histochemical staining are used to reveal the location and relative importance of chemical components involved with the base of cotton fibers and their associated seed coat. These two complementary techniques are focused on the nature of the chemical components that hold cotton fibers at their bases to the seed coat and with other portions of seed coat fragments that are often found as part of the trash component of ginned cotton. Infrared results reveal waxes or long-chain alcohols adjacent to the shank of cotton fiber bases in the outer epidermal tissue in all regions of the cotton seed; uronate anions in the outer epidermis and pigment layers surrounding the bases of the fibers and strongly present in the upper palisade layer tissue of all seed regions; compounds containing carbonyl functionality, acids, and bases, at the juncture of the upper palisade and colorless layers; tannin or pretannin-type aromatic structures in the outer pigment layer and interior to the cells in the epidermal layer of all seed coat regions; and lignin-type aromatics in the "colorless" layer of all regions of the seed coat. The infrared results are complemented by staining with Oil Red O for waxes, Ruthenium Red for pectins, acid phloroglucinol for lignins, and vanillin-HCl for tannins. The results provide a better understanding of fiber-seed interactions that are important to the development of methods for improving the separation of cotton fibers from seed coats. In turn, this will help to avoid breaking fibers and pulling out seed coat fragments with the fibers during ginning.
Synthetic fibers released during washing are the primary source of microplastic pollution. Hence, research on reducing the release of microplastic fibers during washing has recently attracted considerable attention. As a result of previous studies, there is a difference in the amount of microplastic emission according to various types of fabrics. To mitigate the release of microplastics, the study of the reason for the difference in the amount of microplastics is needed. Therefore, this study investigated different synthetic fabrics that release microplastics and the physical properties of the fabrics that affect the release of fibers. Three types of fabrics with different chemical compositions were analyzed. The washing and drying processes were improved by focusing on the mechanical factors that affected microplastic release. Furthermore, based on the mass of the collected microplastic fibers, it was found that the chemical compositions of the fabric can affect the microplastics released during washing and drying. This evaluation of physical properties helped to identify the physical factors that affect microplastic release. These results may provide a basis for reducing microplastic fiber types, thereby minimizing unintended environmental pollution.
The direct use of conventional photosensitizers in photodynamic therapy (PDT) of cancer cells has been thwarted by their low solubility, poor photostability, and aggregation tendency. Hence, complex and hectic synthetic procedures, such as developing nanomaterials and subsequently loading them with photosensitizers, have become mandatory for the effective use of photosensitizers in PDT. In this study, we have avoided complex procedures and produce hematoporphyrin (HP) photosensitizer-encapsulated carbon quantum dots (CQDs) (HP-CQDs) facilely through a well-controlled one-step microwave reaction by using the HP monomer as one of the precursors. The as-synthesized HP-CQDs retained all intrinsic optical and chemical properties of HP, while displaying excellent solubility in water. Importantly, the excellent reactive oxygen species generation ability of HP-CQDs under the illumination of deep red light favored their applicability in PDT-assisted efficient eradication of human breast cancer cells (MCF-7). Compared to HP, HP-CQDs exhibited very high phototoxicity and low dark toxicity toward MCF-7 cells. Overall, this study offers a proof of concept that photosensitizer-implanted CQDs, having excellence in PDT-assisted cancer treatment, can be easily designed by strategically exploiting the diversity available in the selection of precursors and synthesis conditions to produce CQDs.
With the increasing production of synthetic materials, more microplastic fibers are being generated while washing clothes. Consequently, these particles are increasingly detected in the aquatic environment. Synthetic fibers produced via washing have a relatively high contribution to microplastic pollution. Hence, recent research on reducing the release of microplastic fibers is attracting considerable attention. In this study, fabric-specific analysis was performed by strictly controlling various factors, and each washing and drying process was improved by focusing on the mechanical factors affecting microplastic release. Furthermore, the mass of the collected microplastic fibers and their length distribution were measured. Fabric construction, including chemical composition and yarn type, impacted the microplastics released during washing and drying. Differences in the mechanical factors during washing helped to identify the physical factors affecting microplastic release. These results on the release of microplastics may provide a basis for developing a filter system that can minimize the unintended environmental consequences.
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