Post graduate dissertations (Theses) of Chemistry (Chy) http://lib.buet.ac.bd;localhosthttp://:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/628 2026-10-31T11:47:07Z 2026-10-31T11:47:07Z Rifat Zafrin http://lib.buet.ac.bd;localhosthttp://:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/7394 2026-10-27T04:56:36Z 2025-02-04T00:00:00Z

Development of polycaprolactone-block-poly (methyl methacrylate) as a polymeric carrier for PH dependent drug release Author(s): Rifat Zafrin. Dr. Sharmeen Nishat; Rifat Zafrin; 0421032205; 541.7/RIF/2025 Block copolymers (BCPs) are a particular type of copolymers, wherein the chemically distinctive monomer units are assembled in discrete blocks along the polymer chain. BCPs are very important class of materials because of their ability to be organized into nanostructures and their uses in diverse applications such as lithography, porous material synthesis and in drug delivery. Among various controlled radical polymerization (CRP) techniques, the combination of ring opening polymerization (ROP) and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) have received remarkable attention with regard to macroinitiator and block copolymer synthesis. Aliphatic polyesters such as poly (L-lactic acid) (PLLA) and poly(ε–caprolactone) (PCL) are interesting polymers for pharmacological, biomedical, environmental, and agricultural applications due to their good mechanical properties, high drug permeability, and biocompatibility. On the other hand, Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) is an acrylic hydrophobic biostable polymer that is widely used in the biomedical field as bone cement in orthopedics and traumatology and as implant carrier for sustained local delivery of anti-inflammatory or antibiotic drugs. PCL-PMMA block copolymer can improve the mechanical properties with reduced toxicity, and able to provide a partial biodegradable character to control the release of bioactive molecules. In this sense, PCL-b-PMMA block copolymer was synthesized, Cytotoxicity was determined against Artemia salina. It was found that the polymer was less toxic than the solvent (Ethyl acetate) was used to dissolve it. Antibacterial activity was tested against different bacteria and the polymer showed slide antibacterial activity by itself. Generally, drugs are poorly soluble in water. Furthermore, most bio-molecules have a very short half-life in vivo. Consequently, these compounds should be administered by immersing in a polymeric matrix. Therefore, in this study encapsulation of a drug (PTX) with this synthesized block copolymer was carried out by micellization method and release rate profile was also investigated against both a physiological pH (7.2) and a cell pH (5). Drug release rate was found to be more in cell pH than that of in physiological pH with controlled manner. Key words: Bifunctional initiators; Macroinitiator; Block copolymer; Cytotoxicity; Antibacterial activity; Controlled release; pH responsive; Living radical polymerization.

2025-02-04T00:00:00Z Solaiman Miah http://lib.buet.ac.bd;localhosthttp://:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/7319 2026-05-19T03:17:50Z 2025-03-18T00:00:00Z

Probing the antibiotic affinity of microplastics in environmental systems Sharmin, Dr. Ayesha; Solaiman Miah; 0422032003; 549.12/SOL/2025 Microplastics are tiny plastic particles (less than 5 mm in size) that result from the breakdown of larger plastic materials or are intentionally manufactured for specific products. Their interaction with antibiotics raises concerns about environmental and human health risks. This study investigated the synthesis of micro-plastics and their adsorption of antibiotics. Nylon and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) from commercial sources were used to produce MPss. To simulate aging, MPss were oxidized via the Fenton reaction at 80°C in an acidic medium. Adsorption experiments, conducted using UV-visible spectroscopy, examined antibiotic retention on both aged and unaged MPss. Characterization techniques, including Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), digital microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), were used to assess surface modifications. Results showed that aging increased doxycycline adsorption on nylon (Aged: 5.72 mg/g > Raw: 5.00 mg/g) and PET (Aged: 3.38 mg/g > Raw: 1.48 mg/g), likely due to surface changes. Cephalexin adsorption was higher on PET than nylon, with aging enhancing retention (Aged PET: 2.37 mg/g > Raw PET: 1.76 mg/g; Raw Nylon: 0.90 mg/g, Aged: 0.99 mg/g). Fulvic acid (FA) reduced doxycycline adsorption on raw nylon (2.90 mg/g vs. 5.00 mg/g) but increased it in aged nylon (6.98 mg/g vs. 5.72 mg/g), indicating variable effects. These findings highlight the formation of micro-plastic-antibiotic complexes and their potential environmental consequences. Understanding MPss’ antibiotic interactions is crucial for evaluating their long-term impact on ecosystems and public health.

2025-03-18T00:00:00Z Roksana Akter http://lib.buet.ac.bd;localhosthttp://:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/7228 2025-12-30T06:00:56Z 2025-05-14T00:00:00Z

Solvent free synthesis of Chalcones from Aldehydes and Ketones using Heterogeneous Niobic Acid catalyst Nurnobi Rashed, Dr. Md.; Roksana Akter; 0422032006; 541.395/ROK/2025 Chalcone, an important organic molecule featuring an α, β-unsaturated carbonyl framework, holds significant relevance in both organic synthesis and medicinal chemistry. It acts as a key intermediate in the production of polymers, fine chemicals, agrochemicals, and a range of pharmaceutical compounds due to its notable biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antimicrobial properties. The synthesis of chalcones from aldehydes and ketones has traditionally relied on methods such as Claisen–Schmidt condensation, Meyer–Schuster rearrangement, Suzuki coupling, and Fries rearrangement. However, these approaches often demand elevated temperatures, prolonged reaction times, and substantial amounts of reagents or additives. While homogeneous acid catalysts like HCl, BF₃•Et₂O, and p-toluene sulfonic acid have been used in chalcone synthesis, they commonly yield low product output and pose challenges in catalyst separation and reuse. On the other hand, heterogeneous catalysts such as MgO, Fe₃O₄@MOF, supported BF₃, B₂O₃, LiNO₃ on natural phosphate, calcined hydrotalcites, and alkali-modified zeolites have also been explored. However, these systems often suffer from moderate yields, complex preparation procedures, harsh operating conditions, and environmental drawbacks.Moreover, in many cases, the Lewis acid sites of these catalysts become deactivated due to interaction with water generated during the reaction, leading to a decline in their catalytic performance. To overcome these obstacles, the development of a water-tolerant and efficient catalytic system is essential. Niobic acid (Nb₂O₅•nH₂O), a solid acid catalyst known for its water stability, offers a promising solution. Studies suggest that the Lewis acidic Nb⁵⁺ centers in niobic acid activate ketones by coordinating with their carbonyl groups, facilitating enol formation. Simultaneously, its Brønsted acid sites (–OH groups) enhance the electrophilicity of aldehydes by protonating their carbonyl oxygen. This dual activation by Lewis and Brønsted acid sites enables efficient carbon–carbon bond formation followed by dehydration, producing α, β-unsaturated chalcones under mild and eco-friendly conditions.Furthermore, the catalyst retains its activity over successive cycles, exhibiting minimal loss in performance upon reuse. This method supports a wide range of substrates, delivering high yields (up to 98%) with various aldehydes (e.g., 4-methylbenzaldehyde, 4-chlorobenzaldehyde) and ketones (e.g., 4-bromoacetophenone, tetralone). Therefore, this study aims to investigate the use of niobic acid (Nb₂O₅•nH₂O) as a sustainable, efficient, and recyclable catalyst for the synthesis of chalcones. Keywords: Chalcone, Nb2O5.nH2O, Lewis and Brønsted acid sites, water-tolerant

2025-05-14T00:00:00Z Afrina Hoque, Khondaker http://lib.buet.ac.bd;localhosthttp://:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/7227 2025-12-30T04:53:19Z 2025-06-30T00:00:00Z

Photocatalytic dye degradation and antimicrobial activities of CuO/ZnO/Co3O4 nanocomposites synthesized via green chemistry Chowdhury, Dr. Al-Nakib; Afrina Hoque, Khondaker; 0421033602F; 546.681/AFR/2025 The green synthesis of transition metal oxide nanocomposites using Litseaglutinosa leaf extract presents a environment friendly approach that eliminates the need for toxic chemicals, offering a promising solution to global issues such as non-biodegradable dye pollution and antibiotic resistance. In this study, binary (Co₃O₄/ZnO, ZnO/CuO, CuO/Co₃O₄) and ternary (CuO/ZnO/Co₃O₄) nanocomposites were synthesized via a green route and characterized using UV-Vis, FT-IR, XRD, and SEM-EDS techniques. The ternary CuO/ZnO/Co₃O₄ nanocomposite displayed a reduced band gap of 1.6-3.04 eV with dual absorption peaks at 271 nm and 523 nm, signifying enhanced visible light absorption. XRD confirmed the successful formation and crystalline nature of each composite, with crystallite sizes of 12.45 nm (ZnO/Co₃O₄), 8.93 nm (CuO/Co₃O₄), 26.53 nm (ZnO/CuO), and 21.61 nm (ZnO/CuO/Co₃O₄). SEM analysis revealed distinct morphologies, spherical-rod (ZnO/Co₃O₄), porous spongy (CuO/Co₃O₄), butterfly-like (ZnO/CuO), and irregular hybrid structures (ternary) while EDX confirmed the elemental purity and uniform distribution. Photocatalytic testing under direct sunlight (at 7 ppm dye, 0.6 mg catalyst, pH 11, and 180 min) demonstrated that CuO/ZnO/Co₃O₄ exhibited the highest MB degradation efficiency (95 %) and the fastest reaction rate (1.69×10⁻² min⁻¹), outperforming the binary composites. Antibacterial tests against E. coli showed moderate activity across all samples, with CuO/Co₃O₄ achieving the largest inhibition zones (8–16 mm). These findings indicate that the synthesized nanocomposites have potential for environmental remediation and antibacterial applications. Keywords:LitseaGlutinosa; Methylene blue; Nanocomposites; Photocatalytic activity; Antimicrobial activity; Dye degradation.

2025-06-30T00:00:00Z