TRANSITION METAL OXIDE/SELENIDE-BASED NANOCOMPOSITE FOR PHOTO-ELECTROCATALYTIC DEGRADATION OF PHARMACEUTICAL ORGANIC POLLUTANT

Abstract

In recent decades, antibiotics have been extensively used to combat bacterial infections in both humans and animals [1]. Between 2000 and 2015, global antibiotic consumption surged by 65%, increasing from 21.1 to 34.8 billion defined daily doses [2]. This increase was predominantly driven by the BRICS nations—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—which accounted for 76% of the rise [3]. This highlights the significant role these countries have played in the growing demand for antibiotics during this period. Penicillin and its related beta-lactams are among the most traditional and widely used antibiotic regimens [4]. These medications target penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs), which are essential enzymes for bacterial cell wall synthesis. However, antibiotic resistance (AR), fueled by antibiotic consumption, has emerged as a growing global health threat. Current estimates indicate that antibiotic-resistant infections cause approximately 700,000 deaths annually worldwide [5]. A recent analysis on the increasing impact of antimicrobial resistance projects that, without intervention, this figure could rise more than tenfold over the next 35 years. The removal of antibiotics from water bodies poses a significant challenge due to their low biodegradability and resistance to photodegradation, making conventional chemical and biological treatments ineffective. As a result, this issue has garnered considerable inerest within the scientific community.