Polystyrene-Modified PVDF Membranes: A Novel Approach for Improved Flux and Salt Rejection in Direct Contact Membrane Distillation Heba A. El‐Nemr, Marwa ElKady, Mohamed E. El‐Khouly Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 2026 In this study, novel mixed‐matrix membranes based on polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) blended with varying ratios of polystyrene (PS) were fabricated and evaluated for use in direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD). Membrane morphology, crystallinity, and surface properties were characterized using SEM, XRD, and contact angle measurements. The incorporation of PS enhanced hydrophobicity and improved crystalline structure without altering the α‐phase of PVDF. The performance of the membranes was systematically optimized under varying operating conditions including feeding temperature, flow rate, operational time, and salt concentration. Notably, the membrane with 2 wt.% PS exhibited the highest water vapor flux (10 kg/m 2 h) and salt rejection (> 99.9%) at a feed temperature of 80°C and a concentration of 10,000 ppm of NaCl. Extended operation up to 24 h demonstrated long‐term stability and wetting resistance. Compared to other modified PVDF membranes in the literature, the developed PVDF–PS membranes offer competitive performance. The enhancement in performance is attributed to the hydrophobic and structural effects of PS, which promote crystallinity in the PVDF matrix. This work introduces an effective, low‐cost modification strategy to improve membrane efficiency for desalination applications, suggesting that PVDF–PS membranes are promising candidates for scalable DCMD systems.
Water-soluble porphyrin-mediated enhanced photodynamic and chemotherapy employing doxorubicin for breast cancer Aya Mokhtar, Tarek Mohamed, Ahmed O. Eigza, Mohamed E. El-Khouly Lasers in Medical Science, 2025 Breast cancer is the second most common cancer globally and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women. Current treatments, such as chemotherapy and surgery, often have side effects and can lead to drug resistance. Developing new treatments that specifically target cancer cells while minimizing side effects is essential. Combining traditional cancer treatments with photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising approach. This study evaluated the effectiveness of femtosecond laser-driven PDT using Doxorubicin (DOX) and tetrakis (1-methylpyridinium-4-yl) porphyrin (TMPyP), both individually and in combination, on MDA-MB-231 and T47D breast cancer cells. TMPyP-PDT and DOX monotherapy both exhibited dose-dependent cytotoxicity. However, combination therapy was more effective at lower DOX concentrations, potentially reducing side effects. This combination also increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, inhibited angiogenesis by reducing TGF-β and VEGFA expression, and induced apoptosis by decreasing BCL-2 and increasing BAX levels compared to individual treatments. These findings suggest that combining TMPyP-mediated PDT with Doxorubicin could effectively inhibit breast cancer cell growth.
Nitrogen and sulfur-doped biochar supported magnetic CuZnFe2O4 as a sustainable adsorbent for efficient reactive black dye 5 removal from industrial wastewater Ahmed M. Abdelfatah, Manal Fawzy, Mohamed E. El-Khouly, Abdelazeem S. Eltaweil Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery, 2025 The shortage of clean and safe water resources, due to the growing pollution and the high cost of water treatment techniques, has become a real threat. Herein, CuZnFe2O4@N,S-doped biochar (CZF@N,S-BC), a novel magnetic, cleaner, and completely green-based composite, was fabricated using the aqueous extract of Beta vulgaris (sugar beet) leaves for the efficient removal of reactive black dye 5 (RB5) from industrial wastewater discharge. With the aid of numerous techniques, including Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Scanning Electron Spectroscopy (SEM), Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM), and zeta potential analyses, CZF@N,S-BC was well-characterized. The results revealed the successful fabrication of CZF@N,S-BC with good magnetic saturation of 12 emu/g and a highly positively charged surface of 32 mV at pH 2. The removal efficiency of RB5 was reached 96.5% at equilibrium time 60 min, and adsorbent dose of 80 mg. The equilibrium data fitted well with the Freundlich isotherm model, while the adsorption kinetics followed a pseudo-second-order model (PSO), with a maximum adsorption capacity of 276.57 mg/g. The thermodynamics results confirmed the physical interaction between the composite and RB5. Additionally, the composite also demonstrated exceptional reusability, maintaining a removal efficiency of 57.27% even after six consecutive cycles. To evaluate the performance of CZF@N,S-BC composite in a real water matrix, the composite was subjected to remove RB5 from a real wastewater sample obtained from an industrial discharge of a textile dyeing industry. Also, a plausible mechanism of RB5 removal by the composite was intensively discussed using XPS before and after adsorption.
