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Recent Advances in Exploiting Ionic Liquids for Biocatalytic and Pharmaceutical Application

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A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Liquids".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2024 | Viewed by 8167

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Amal A.M. Elgharbawy

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Guest Editor

International Institute for Halal Research and Training (INHART), International Islamic University Malaysia, Gombak, Kuala Lumpur 50728, Malaysia
Interests: bioprocessing; green solvents; ionic liquids; nanomaterials; enzyme kinetics; enzyme activation

Dr. Muhammad Muniruzzaman

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Guest Editor

Department of Chemical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Bandar Seri Iskandar, Perak 32610, Malaysia
Interests: ionic liquids; surfactant technology; drug delivery; oil spill remediation; separation technology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue is dedicated to highlighting the most recent advances in using ionic liquids (ILs) in biocatalytic and pharmaceutical applications, as they are currently gaining much attention from academicians and researchers, as well as from the industry. ILs, particularly third generation ILs, can be used in biological applications due to their low toxicity, biological activities, and wide scope of applications.

This Special Issue will present the current efforts being made to use ionic liquids in different areas of medicine and pharmaceutics, with a particular emphasis on addressing critical pharmaceutical challenges, including low solubility, polymorphism, and the bioavailability of drugs. Breakthroughs are also expected in green ILs, where special attention is being paid to the use of low-cost materials that come from renewable sources to formulate those solvents, which are helping move toward sustainability in the pharmaceutical industries.

In addition, biocatalysis uses natural substances that include enzymes from biological sources or whole cells to speed up chemical reactions, which is also in line with sustainability. Ionic liquids play a significant role in enzyme activation, immobilization, and recyclability. They are also found useful as catalysts in several reactions.

The aim of the current Special Issue is to cover emerging and promising research trends of the applications of ionic liquids in pharmaceutics and biocatalysis. Reviews of the recent literature and original research papers are welcome. Areas to be covered may include:

Biological activities of ionic liquids;
Drug delivery in ionic liquid systems;
Ionic liquid-based drug formulations (e.g., API-IL);
Ionic liquid-based formulation delivery of other therapeutic agents including proteins, peptides, and so on;
Emulsions, microemulsions, and nanoemulsions using ionic liquids as surfactants or co-surfactants;
Ionic liquid surfactants for medical and pharmaceutical applications;
Biocatalysis using ionic liquids;
Solubility, activity, and stability of biomolecules in ionic liquids;
Recyclability and reusability of ionic liquids and biocatalysis.

Dr. Amal A.M. Elgharbawy
Dr. Muhammad Muniruzzaman
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Molecules is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

ionic liquids
nanomaterials
emulsions
biological activity
biocatalysis
active pharmaceutical ingredients
drug delivery
mechanism of action
toxicity
pharmaceuticals
enzymes

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 11319 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Synthesis, Characterization, and Investigation of Novel Ionic Liquid-Based Tooth Bleaching Gels: A Step towards Safer and Cost-Effective Cosmetic Dentistry

by Memuna Kausar Satti, Maleeha Nayyer, Meshal Alshamrani, Muhammad Kaleem, Ahmad Salawi, Awaji Y. Safhi, Abdullah Alsalhi, Fahad Y. Sabei, Abdul Samad Khan and Nawshad Muhammad

Molecules 2023, 28(7), 3131; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/molecules28073131 - 31 Mar 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1819

Abstract

The objective of this study was to synthesize a novel choline hydroxide ionic liquid-based tooth bleaching gel. Ionic liquid-based gels were synthesized and characterized using FTIR along with pH testing. Tooth sample preparation was carried out in line with ISO 28399:2020. The effects of synthesized gels on tooth samples were tested. Tooth samples were stained and grouped into three experimental groups: EAI (22% choline hydroxide gel), EAII (44% choline hydroxide gel), and EB (choline citrate gel) and two control groups: CA (commercial at-home 16% carbamide peroxide gel) and CB (deionized water). The tooth color analysis, which included shade matching with the Vitapan shade guide (n = 2), and digital colorimetric analysis (n = 2) were evaluated. The surface characteristics and hardness were analyzed with 3D optical profilometry, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX), and Microhardness testing (n = 3), respectively. The tooth color analysis (Vitapan shade guide) revealed that all the tooth samples treated with synthesized choline citrate gel (EB) showed an A1 shade as compared to the other four groups, giving a range of shades. An analysis of the ΔE values from digital colorimetry; EAI, EAII, CA, and CB showed ΔE values in a range that was clinically perceptible at a glance. However, EB showed the highest value of ΔE. The mean microhardness values for the five groups showed that the effects of three experimental gels i.e., 44% choline hydroxide, 22% choline hydroxide, and choline citrate, on the microhardness of the tooth samples were similar to that of the positive control, which comprised commercial at-home 16% carbamide peroxide gel. SEM with EDX of three tested subgroups was closely related in surface profile, elemental composition, and Ca/P ratio. The roughness average values from optical profilometry of four tested subgroups lie within approximately a similar range, showing a statistically insignificant difference (p > 0.05) between the tested subgroups. The synthesized novel experimental tooth bleaching gels displayed similar tooth bleaching actions without any deleterious effects on the surface characteristics and microhardness of the treated tooth samples when compared with the commercial at-home tooth bleaching gel. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Exploiting Ionic Liquids for Biocatalytic and Pharmaceutical Application)

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22 pages, 6741 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Modification with Conventional Surfactants to Improve a Lipid-Based Ionic-Liquid-Associated Transcutaneous Anticancer Vaccine

by Shihab Uddin, Md. Rafiqul Islam, Rahman Md. Moshikur, Rie Wakabayashi, Muhammad Moniruzzaman and Masahiro Goto

Molecules 2023, 28(7), 2969; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/molecules28072969 - 27 Mar 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2825

Abstract

Transcutaneous vaccination is one of the successful, affordable, and patient-friendly advanced immunization approaches because of the presence of multiple immune-responsive cell types in the skin. However, in the absence of a preferable facilitator, the skin’s outer layer is a strong impediment to delivering biologically active foreign particles. Lipid-based biocompatible ionic-liquid-mediated nanodrug carriers represent an expedient and distinct strategy to permit transdermal drug delivery; with acceptable surfactants, the performance of drug formulations might be further enhanced. For this purpose, we formulated a lipid-based nanovaccine using a conventional (cationic/anionic/nonionic) surfactant loaded with an antigenic protein and immunomodulator in its core to promote drug delivery by penetrating the skin and boosting drug delivery and immunogenic cell activity. In a follow-up investigation, a freeze–dry emulsification process was used to prepare the nanovaccine, and its transdermal delivery, pharmacokinetic parameters, and ability to activate autoimmune cells in the tumor microenvironment were studied in a tumor-budding C57BL/6N mouse model. These analyses were performed using ELISA, nuclei and HE staining, flow cytometry, and other biological techniques. The immunomodulator-containing nanovaccine significantly (p < 0.001) increased transdermal drug delivery and anticancer immune responses (IgG, IgG1, IgG2, CD8+, CD207+, and CD103+ expression) without causing cellular or biological toxicity. Using a nanovaccination approach, it is possible to create a more targeted and efficient delivery system for cancer antigens, thereby stimulating a stronger immune response compared with conventional aqueous formulations. This might lead to more effective therapeutic and preventative outcomes for patients with cancer. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Exploiting Ionic Liquids for Biocatalytic and Pharmaceutical Application)

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15 pages, 2713 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ionic Liquid-Based Green Emulsion Liquid Membrane for the Extraction of the Poorly Soluble Drug Ibuprofen

by Huma Warsi Khan, Amal A. M. Elgharbawy, Mohamed Azmi Bustam, Masahiro Goto and Muhammad Moniruzzaman

Molecules 2023, 28(5), 2345; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/molecules28052345 - 03 Mar 2023

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2062

Abstract

Ibuprofen (Ibf) is a biologically active drug (BADs) and an emerging contaminant of concern (CECs) in aqueous streams. Due to its adverse effects upon aquatic organisms and humans, the removal and recovery of Ibf are essential. Usually, conventional solvents are employed for the separation and recovery of ibuprofen. Due to environmental limitations, alternative green extracting agents need to be explored. Ionic liquids (ILs), emerging and greener alternatives, can also serve this purpose. It is essential to explore ILs that are effective for recovering ibuprofen, among millions of ILs. The conductor-like screening model for real solvents (COSMO-RS) is an efficient tool that can be used to screen ILs specifically for ibuprofen extraction. The main objective of this work was to identify the best IL for the extraction of ibuprofen. A total of 152 different cation–anion combinations consisting of eight aromatic and non-aromatic cations and nineteen anions were screened. The evaluation was based upon activity coefficients, capacity, and selectivity values. Furthermore, the effect of alkyl chain length was studied. The results suggest that quaternary ammonium (cation) and sulfate (anion) have better extraction ability for ibuprofen than the other combinations tested. An ionic liquid-based green emulsion liquid membrane (ILGELM) was developed using the selected ionic liquid as the extractant, sunflower oil as the diluent, Span 80 as the surfactant, and NaOH as the stripping agent. Experimental verification was carried out using the ILGELM. The experimental results indicated that the predicted COSMO-RS and the experimental results were in good agreement. The proposed IL-based GELM is highly effective for the removal and recovery of ibuprofen. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Exploiting Ionic Liquids for Biocatalytic and Pharmaceutical Application)

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15 pages, 2260 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Palm Raceme as a Promising Biomass Precursor for Activated Carbon to Promote Lipase Activity with the Aid of Eutectic Solvents

by Khalid M. Abed, Adeeb Hayyan, Amal A. M. Elgharbawy, Hanee F. Hizaddin, Mohd Ali Hashim, Hassimi Abu Hasan, Mahar Diana Hamid, Fathiah M. Zuki, Jehad Saleh and Ahmad GH Aldaihani

Molecules 2022, 27(24), 8734; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/molecules27248734 - 09 Dec 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1017

Abstract

This study concerns the role of activated carbon (AC) from palm raceme as a support material for the enhancement of lipase-catalyzed reactions in an aqueous solution, with deep eutectic solvent (DES) as a co-solvent. The effects of carbonization temperature, impregnation ratio, and carbonization time on lipase activity were studied. The activities of Amano lipase from Burkholderia cepacia (AML) and lipase from the porcine pancreas (PPL) were used to investigate the optimum conditions for AC preparation. The results showed that AC has more interaction with PPL and effectively provides greater enzymatic activity compared with AML. The optimum treatment conditions of AC samples that yield the highest enzymatic activity were 0.5 (NaOH (g)/palm raceme (g)), 150 min, and a carbonization temperature of 400 °C. DES was prepared from alanine/sodium hydroxide and used with AC for the further enhancement of enzymatic activity. Kinetic studies demonstrated that the activity of PPL was enhanced with the immobilization of AC in a DES medium. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Exploiting Ionic Liquids for Biocatalytic and Pharmaceutical Application)

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