The nuclear receptor, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), is expressed in various cancer cells including breast, prostate, colorectal and cervical examples. An endogenous ligand of PPARγ, 15-deoxy-Δ12,14 prostaglandin J2 (PGJ2), is emerging as a potent anticancer agent but the exact mechanism has not been fully elucidated, especially in breast cancer. The present study compared the anticancer effects of PGJ2 on estrogen receptor alpha (ERα)-positive (MCF-7) and ERα-negative (MDA-MB-231) human breast cancer cells. Based on the reported signalling cross-talk between PPARγ and ERα, the effect of the ERα ligand, 17β-estradiol (E2) on the anticancer activities of PGJ2 in both types of cells was also explored. Here we report that PGJ2 inhibited proliferation of both MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells by inducing apoptotic cell death with active involvement of mitochondria. The presence of E2 potentiated PGJ2-induced apoptosis in MCF-7, but not in MDA-MB-231 cells. The PPARγ antagonist, GW9662, failed to block PGJ2-induced activities but potentiated its effects in MCF-7 cells, instead. Interestingly, GW9662 also proved capable of inducing apoptotic cell death. It can be concluded that E2 enhances PPARγ-independent anticancer effects of PGJ2 in the presence of its receptor.
The asymmetric polyethersulfone (PES-15 wt.%) mixed-matrix membranes were prepared by incorporation of carbon molecular sieve (CMS) with varying concentrations (1, 3, and 5 wt.%). Physicochemical characterization of synthesized membranes was carried out using field emission scanning electron microscope, atomic force microscopy, contact angle, thermogravimetric analysis, zeta potential analyzer, porosity, and mean pore sizes. Performance analysis of synthesized mixed-matrix membranes was carried out by varying the operating parameters such as pressure (2-10 bar), feed concentration (100-1,000 mg/L), and cations type (Na+ , Ca2+ , Mg2+ , and Sn2+ ). Effect of operating parameters and CMS concentration was investigated on pure water flux (PWF), permeate flux, and rejection of membranes. It was found that mixed-matrix membrane containing 15 wt.% PES with 1 wt.% CMS displayed the superior physicochemical characteristics in terms of hydrophilicity (37.9°), surface charge (-13.8 mV), mean pore diameter (6.04 nm), and thermal properties (Tg = 218.5°C), and overall performance. E5C1 membrane showed 1.5 times higher PWF (75.5 L m-2 hr-1 ) and incremented in rejection for all salts than the nascent membrane. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Carbon molecular sieve-embedded mixed-matrix membranes were synthesized by phase inversion method. The resultant membranes experienced improved hydrophilicity, roughness, surface charge, porosity, and mean pore diameter with 1 wt.% CMS loading. The pure water flux was improved from 55.77 to 75.05 L m-2 hr-1 when 1 wt.% CMS was added in pure PES. The observed rejection of a mixed-matrix membrane with 1 wt.% CMS was the maximum for all salts.
The key challenge in the synthesis of composite mixed matrix membrane (MMMs) is the incompatible membrane fabrication using porous support in the dry-wet phase inversion technique. The key objective of this research is to synthesize thin composite ternary (amine) mixed matrix membranes on microporous support by incorporating 10 wt% of carbon molecular sieve (CMS) and 5-15 wt% of diethanolamine (DEA) in polyethersulfone (PES) dope solution for the separation of carbon dioxide (CO2) from methane (CH4) at high-pressure applications. The developed membranes were evaluated for their morphological structure, thermal and mechanical stabilities, functional groups, as well as for CO2-CH4 separation performance at high pressure (10-30 bar). The results showed that the developed membranes have asymmetric structure, and they are mechanically strong at 30 bar. This new class of PES/CMS/DEA composite MMMs exhibited improved gas permeance compared to pure PES composite polymeric membrane. CO2-CH4 perm-selectivity enhanced from 8.15 to 16.04 at 15 wt% of DEA at 30 bar pressure. The performance of amine composite MMMs is theoretically predicted using a modified Maxwell model. The predictions were in good agreement with experimental data after applying the optimized values with AARE % = ∼less than 2% and R2 = 0.99.
This study explains the modeling of synthesized membranes using the Donnan Steric Pore model (DSPM) based on the Extended Nernst Planck Equation (ENP). Conventionally, structural parameters required to predict the performance of the membranes were determined through tedious experimentation, which in this study are found using a new MATLAB technique. A MATLAB program is used to determine the unknown structural parameters such as effective charge density (Xd), effective pore radius (rp), and effective membrane thickness to porosity ratio (Δx/Ak) by using the single solute rejection and permeation data. It was found that the model predicted the rejection of studied membranes accurately, with the E5C1 membrane exceeding the others (E5, E5C5) for rejection of single and divalent salt's aqueous solutions. The rejection of 100 ppm aqueous solution of NaCl for E5C1 was around 60%, whereas, for an aqueous solution of 100 ppm, CaCl2 rejection reached up to 80% at 10 bar feed pressure. The trend of salt rejection for all three membranes was found to be in the following order: E5C1 > E5C5 > E5, confirming that their structural parameters-controlled ion transport in these membranes. The structural parameters, such as effective pore radius, effective membrane thickness to porosity ratio, and effective charge density for the best performing membrane, i.e., E5C1, were determined to be 0.5 nm, 16 μm, and -6.04 mol/m3,respectively. Finally, it can be asserted that this method can be used to predict the real performance of membranes by significantly reducing the number of experiments previously required for the predictive modeling of nanofiltration-type membranes.
Produced water (PW) has been generated in a huge amount representing the largest volume waste stream. Membrane technology has found a leading ability in treating PW due to its significant advantages, such as lower cost, easy installation, and being environmentally friendly. Mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) have received significant research interest due to their flexibility, multifunctionality enhances the membrane performance with increasing selectivity, permeability, robustness, mechanical strength, and resistance to fouling. This mini-review paper identifies the utilization of different membranes for treating PW. It also gives a review of different types of MMMs with specific fillers for the application of PW treatment. Lastly, some methods to enhance the performance of mixed matrix membranes have been highlighted. The issues and challenges in membranes are also discussed. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) are a potential membrane type for PW treatment. This mini-review paper identifies the use of several membranes to treat PW. It also examined various types of MMMs containing specific fillers for the application of PW treatment. Methods for improving the performance of mixed matrix membranes have been highlighted, including the use of novel materials, surface modification, and cross-linking. The issues and challenges in membranes are also discussed.
Consumption of curry containing poppy seeds has raised an issue concerning the opiate content in the urine that might exceed the cut-off value (300ng/mL). The main objective of this study was to examine the morphine and codeine contents in the urine of the consumers after partaking poppy seed-enriched curry in. The volunteers were asked to partake: (a) a single meal and their urines were collected within 24h, or (b) Two meals a day for three consecutive days and their urines were collected within 72h. Two different dosages were also tested in this study: (a) low dosage: 1g/100ml curry (containing 138μg of morphine and 66μg of codeine) and (b) high dosage: 5g/100ml curry (containing 690μg of morphine and 330μg of codeine). The subjects were randomised into the groups using the method of stratified randomization with age and gender groups as covariates. A total of 6 subjects was allocated for each group and placebos were used as control. Results showed that all subjects who consumed low dosage of poppy seeds either in single meal or multiple meals experiment were found negative. However, 1 out of 6high dosage subjects was confirmed positive at a period of 3-6h after the consumption of curry in the single meal study. This outlier maybe due to the lack of water consumption after consuming the curry, thus the low volume of urine was collected and the opiate was concentrated in the urine. On the other hand, 5 out of 6high dosage subjects in the multiple meals experiment were found positive. Majority of these subjects were found positive on the second and third day of the experiment after the second curry meal was consumed. The outlier (negative) in this group might be due to the high consumption of water throughout the experiment and the subject's urine volumes and frequency of urine collection were much higher compared to other subjects. From the result of this study, it can be concluded that partaking high dosages of poppy seed in curry could give a positive response (>300ng/ml+uncertainty of measurement) in the urine, and the water consumption after partaking curry has significant influence for the opiate contents in the urine.