Journal of Cluster Science最新文献

A simple and environmentally friendly, facile solvent-free direct doping (FSFDD) approach was employed to synthesize sulfonated magnetic multi-walled carbon nanotubes (s-MMWCNTs) which in turn employed for the eliminating of methylene blue (MB) dye from aqueous solution. While prior studies have emphasized the synthesis and innovation points of s-MMWCNTs, this work delves into the fundamental adsorption behaviors (adsorption isotherm, kinetic, thermodynamic and mechanism analysis) to provide a deeper understanding of the interactions between the adsorbent and methylene blue (MB). The developed s-MMWCNTs were characterized by zeta potential analysis, transmission electron microscope (TEM) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET). Moreover, the characterization of spent s-MMWCNTs by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope-energy dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) were carried out to compare their characteristics to the freshly synthesized s-MMWCNTs. Results indicated that the Freundlich isotherm model was the best-fitted model, providing a maximum adsorption capacity of 44.64 mg g^− 1. As for the adsorption kinetic studies, the MB adsorption onto s-MMWCNTs was discovered to comply with the pseudo-second-order model. Besides, the thermodynamic results suggested that the adsorption process of MB onto s-MMWCNTs occurred endothermically with spontaneity. Furthermore, the adsorption mechanisms encompassed electrostatic interaction, hydrogen bonding and π–π stacking interaction with the electrostatic interaction as the most salient attractive force in the MB adsorption onto s-MMWCNTs.

Mango is a significant global fruit crop, producing over 1,000 million tonnes annually. However, postharvest losses due to pathogenic fungal infections are considerable, exacerbated by the continuous use of synthetic fungicides, which pose risks of fungal resistance and environmental harm. This study assessed the effectiveness of Origanum vulgare-based nanoemulsion against mango postharvest diseases and quality preservation. Results indicate that the O. vulgare nanoemulsion (Ore-S1-15) exhibited optimal properties, including small droplet size, low polydispersity, and stable pH. FTIR analysis identified key functional groups, while GC-MS results revealed prominent components with isopropyl myristate being the major constituent at 42.41%, followed by isopropyl palmitate (25.53%), oleic acid (4.57%), diethyl phthalate (3.84%), estagole (2.09%), 2-(phenylmethylene)-octanal (1.17%), cyclopentane acetic acid (0.85%), benzoic acid (0.34%), and coumarin (0.26%) as minor constituents. In vitro test of the Ore-S1-15 nanoemulsion against Curvularia sp. demonstrated significant antifungal activity, with 79.51 ± 0.95% conidia inhibition. Additionally, in vivo test showed a reduction in disease incidence on wounded mangoes. The Ore-S1-15 nanoemulsion enhanced quality parameters by delaying colour changes, reducing weight loss and steadily maintaining the total soluble solids. Thus, Ore-S1-15 nanoemulsion emerges as a promising and eco-friendly alternative to synthetic fungicides for controlling mango postharvest diseases and increasing shelf life while preserving quality.

Spinel ferrites are magnetic materials that possess excellent magnetic properties, high surface area, high chemical stability, and tuneable characteristics, making them ideal for water purification. Owing to their multifunctionality and magnetic separation capability, these materials offer high adsorption efficiencies and rapid kinetics for removing pollutants such as metal ions, dyes, and pharmaceuticals. Additionally, spinel ferrites and their nanocomposites, particularly those combined with carbon materials, show strong photocatalytic activity in degrading contaminants. These materials generate active radicals under visible and UV light, offering a low-cost, efficient solution for water treatment. While promising, further studies are needed to advance their practical application in water treatment plants. Despite their potential, a complete understanding of the degradation mechanisms and adsorption processes concerning emerging pollutants such as dyes, pharmaceuticals and microplastics, remains incomplete. This review critically examines factors influencing the performance of spinel ferrites, including particle size, shape, substitution, and functionalization, to provide insights into their molecular-level interactions with pollutants. It analyses how synthesis methods and material modifications, such as carbon coatings and substitutions, enhance photocatalytic degradation efficiency. Additionally, the review addresses magnetic separation techniques, durability over multiple cycles, and regeneration and reusability capabilities. By consolidating current knowledge and identifying research gaps, this comprehensive analysis aims to guide the future development of spinel ferrite-based purification technologies.

Within the framework of concept “spent adsorbent-to-photocatalyst conversion” clinoptilolite with sorbed of transition metals cations—silver, copper, manganese and chromium were tested for photocatalytic degradation of rhodamin B as a typical organic water pollutant. The physicochemical characteristics of these spent adsorbents were studied using XRD, UV-Vis and XPS spectroscopy, potentiometric titration and adsorption-desorption of nitrogen. It was established that the introduction of these cations into the clinoptilolite skeleton by ion exchange does not lead to the formation of a separate metal phase, but contributes to the formation of a meso-macroporous structure and the narrowing of the band gap (doping effect). As a result, such doped clinoptilolites have a higher photocatalytic activity under visible irradiation compared to the initial clinoptilolite, which is minimally active due to the presence of iron impurity. Therefore, a facile way of using the spent clinoptilolite adsorbents for photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants of water under visible illumination is proposed. The novelty of the obtained results is manifested in two aspects: scientific—the photocatalytic activity of clinoptilolites with a low content of doping transition metals (0.3–0.5%) under the action of visible irradiation, and practical—the possibility of using spent clinoptilolite cation exchangers for water purification from pollutants.

Many studies have reported the synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with various shapes using plant extracts in a single step. However, there is limited research on controlling the morphology of AuNPs growing on specific crystal planes. In this study, planar AuNPs were synthesized at room temperature using the extract of the Taraxacum Officinale plant while avoiding exposure to natural light. Various concentrations of plant extract and precursor salt were tested during the synthesis process. The plant extract’s metabolites involved in the reduction and stabilization of the NPs were identified using nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H-NMR) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The fluorescence spectroscopy of the AuNPs was also evaluated. Structural and morphological analysis of the samples was performed using scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM, TEM). The X-ray diffraction (XRD) with the Rietveld method characterized the crystallite size and nanoparticle orientation. SEM and TEM results showed that increasing the plant extract concentration led to NPs with variable shapes due to an abundance of biomolecules in the extract. Also, higher precursor salt concentrations resulted in irregular planar NPs overlapping at specific crystallographic planes, generating a large surface area. XRD confirmed the AuNPs’ Face-Centered Cubic (FCC) lattice structure and verified the planar orientation at the {111} planes. ¹H-NMR and FT-IR spectroscopy revealed that the metabolites in the plant extract mainly consisted of reducing sugars. The most significant finding of this study was that these planar NPs oriented in the {111} planes exhibited fluorescence close to 300 (u.a.), suggesting their potential use in detecting cancer cell lines, which could have significant implications in biomedical diagnostics.

This work was aimed at synthesizing and characterizing urolithin B-encapsulated polyethyleneimine (PEI)-conjugated chitosan nanoparticles and their probable therapeutic use for diabetes-induced kidney damage. Nanoparticles with a specific formulation were prepared using the optimized formulation method, and various analyses were conducted on their properties. A completion of the conjugation between PEI and chitosan was identified through nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The percent Encapsulation Efficiency (EE) along with Loading Efficiency (LE) were also determined and optimized to have the maximum encapsulation of the drug. The improved formulation of UB-PEI-CHI-NPs, with a particle size of 150 nm and a zeta potential of + 20.2 mV, achieved a percentage entrapment efficiency of 85.4%. Nanoparticle concentration ranging from 10 to 100 µg/mL resulted in cell survival rates above 85%. The in vitro drug release study revealed that urolithin B is released gradually over a longer duration. The MTT assay further ascertained the biocompatibility of the formulation and the cytotoxicity of the formulation in a dose-dependent manner. These outcomes indicate that urolithin-loaded PEI-conjugated chitosan nanoparticles might be employed as an effective therapeutic approach for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy, and hence, further in vivo experiments are required to test the prospects of the formulated nanoparticles.

This study investigates the synthesis, characterization, and catalytic activity of functionalized iron oxide nanoparticles for the thermal decomposition of potassium nitrate (KNO₃). The iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄ NP_s) were synthesized using a co-precipitation method and then functionalized with 11-Bromoundecanoic (Fe₃O₄@Br) and 11-Aminoundecanoic acids (Fe₃O₄@NH₂) by chemical route. The functionalized nanoparticles were characterized using Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM). The characterization results revealed that the nanoparticles have a uniform size of approximately 8.3 nm, exhibit superparamagnetic behavior, and are successfully functionalized. To compare short and long-chain ligands, we included our previously reported quaternary (Fe₃O₄@NR₄⁺) and tertiary (Fe₃O₄@NR₃) amine-functionalized magnetic catalysts in the catalytic studies. Among the different functionalized nanoparticles, Fe₃O₄@NR₃ exhibited the most pronounced catalytic activity, significantly reducing the decomposition temperature (DT) of KNO₃ to 683.2 °C compared to the other nanoparticles. This enhanced catalytic activity is attributed to the specific interaction between the Fe₃O₄@NR₃ surface and KNO₃ molecules. The activation energies (E_a) for the thermal decomposition of KNO₃ were calculated using the ASTM e628 method, confirming the decrease in activation energy for the Fe₃O₄@NH₂ + KNO₃ mixture compared to pure KNO₃. These findings demonstrate the potential of tailored surface functionalization to improve the catalytic performance of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles for KNO₃ decomposition, which has potential applications in various fields such as propellants, explosives, and pyrotechnics.

Herein, electrochemical detection of capsaicin (CAP) in sauce and rub samples at a Pt electrode modified with copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) incorporated with functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (fMWCNTs) was reported. The spectroscopic and microscopic characterization of CuO NPs, fMWCNTs and CuO/fMWCNTs nanocomposite with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) spectroscopy confirmed that CuO/fMWCNTs was prepared from the nanomaterials. Electrochemical characterization of the bare Pt, the fMWCNTs-modified Pt, the CuO NP-modified Pt (Pt-CuO) and the CuO/fMWCNTs composite modified Pt (Pt-CuO/fMWCNTs) electrodes revealed that the Pt-CuO/fMWCNTs exhibited the best electron transfer capabilities. The limit of detection (LOD) and the linear range of CAP at Pt-CuO/fMWCNTs were 0.0881 and 0.357–2.73 µM, respectively. The proposed sensor offered outstanding percentage recovery of 106 and 102% when applied to the electroanalysis of CAP in spiked sauce and rub samples, respectively. Pt-CuO/fMWCNTs also retained about 88% of its initial current response when subjected to 25 cyclic voltammetry (CV) scans in the presence of CAP.

Nickel sulphide (NiS) with its low band gap and interesting optical properties, is able to absorb visible light, thus possess appreciable photocatalytic properties. However, their synthesis by green and sustainable methods with controlled morphologies, sizes and phases for specific applications remains a major challenge. We herein report the green synthesis of olive oil- (OO) and castor oil-(CO) capped Ni_xS_y nanoparticles by the thermolysis of [Ni(L)₂] (1) and [Ni₂(L)₃(SCN)].6H₂O (2) complexes as single source precursors (SSPs) at 190 °C and 230 °C, (L being furan-2-carbaldehyde thiosemicarbazone). The single crystal X-ray structure of compound (1) has been elucidated. The influence of reaction parameters on the structure, morphology, size, optical and photocatalytic properties of the synthesized nanoparticles Has been examined using various techniques. Results of powder X-ray diffraction (p-XRD) reveal a mixture of hexagonal Ni₁₇S₁₈ and orthorhombic Ni₉S₈ nanomaterials. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) confirmed the elemental composition of Ni_xS_y nanoparticles. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images revealed spherical and fibrous nanoparticles with sizes ranging between 3.0 and 25.3 nm. Optical properties of Ni_xS_y nanoparticles. The band gap energies obtained from Tauc plots vary between 2.25 and 2.49 eV and 2.29–2.50 eV for NixSy nanoparticles derived from complex (1) and complex (2) respectively and show considerable blue shift from its bulk value due to quantum size confinement effect. The presence of peaks around 1390 and 1561 cm^-1 in the Raman spectra confirm the formation of olive and castor oil capped nickel sulphide nanoparticles (NPs). These results suggest that crystallinity, size, morphology and optical properties of the synthesized Ni_xS_y NPs were affected by thermolysis temperature, capping agent and precursor type. The as-prepared nickel sulphide nanoparticles were used as photocatalysts for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) at a concentration of 10 ppm under UV light irradiation. Nickel sulphide nanoparticles obtained in olive oil at 190 °C using complex (2) as SSP, showed a maximum degradation efficiency of 52.0% after 180 min, suggesting that Ni_xS_y nanoparticles can be used as photocatalysts for the degradation of organic pollutants.

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Colorectal cancer (CRC) poses a significant health challenge, driving the search for novel treatments, and nanoparticles have been introduced as a practical component for better patient outcomes. This study explored the cytotoxic effects of cobalt oxide nanoparticles combined with menthol (Co₃O₄@Glu-Menthol) on CRC cells by assessing the expression of caspase-8 (CASP8) and FEZF1-AS1 genes. Co₃O₄@Glu-Menthol nanoparticles were synthesized by mixing cobalt nitrate with sodium hydroxide and were surface functionalized with glucose and menthol coating. Characterization of nanoparticles was assessed using Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). Cell viability was assessed using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, apoptosis/necrosis evaluation via Annexin V/Propidium Iodide assay, and caspase-8 (CASP8) and FEZF1-AS1 genes expression by qRT-PCR after RNA extraction of CRC cell line, cDNA synthesis, and primer design from both treated and untreated cells. Also, Hoechst staining was performed to characterize the anticancer mechanism of Co₃O₄@Glu-Menthol NPs. The synthesized NPs were spherical, within a 30–60 nm size range, and without impurities. The particles’ DLS size and zeta potential were 175 nm and − 41.1 mV, respectively. MTT assay showed that the IC₅₀ values of NP were 149 µg/mL and 87 µg/mL for 24 and 48 h, respectively, for CRC cell line and 320 µg/mL for normal cell line. Flow cytometry showed significant differences in apoptosis and necrosis between treated and untreated groups. Gene expression analysis revealed a significant increase in CASP8 gene expression (2.4 fold) and a decrease in FEZF1-AS1 gene expression (0.4 fold), indicating apoptotic effects (P < 0.001). Also, Caspase 3 activity was significantly increased in treated cells (6.2 fold) (P < 0.05). The study suggested that Co₃O₄@Glu-Menthol nanoparticles possess potent anticancer properties against CRC cells, potentially through induction of apoptosis and modulation of gene expression related to apoptosis pathways.