Journal of Cluster Science最新文献

Pathogenic viruses are frequently detected in diverse aquatic environments, even in treated water, which poses dangers to human health. For water decontamination, there are conventional water treatments, which typically involve a combination of physical and chemical disinfection processes, but they are not always efficient and certain waterborne viruses exhibit resistance to these methods. Thus, there is a need for improved alternative approaches and the use of nanomaterials appears as interesting solution, given their potential ability to inactivate microbial pathogens. So, in this study, we proposed to investigate the antiviral capacity of non-functionalized superparamagnetic iron oxide raspberry-shaped nanostructures (RSNs) in water. We synthesized iron oxide RSNs of ≈ 380 nm in mean diameter, consisting of oriented aggregates of nanograins, via a solvothermal polyol method and then assessed their antiviral activity with three different bacteriophage strains (T4, Phi6 and PhiX174). Plate assay results showed total virus inactivation for RSN concentrations higher than 10⁶ µg/L. At lower RSNs concentrations (1-10³ µg/L), we observed only a slight inactivation of T4 and PhiX174 phages and total inactivation of Phi6. We have shown that these RSNs are also able to release heat under near-infrared (NIR) irradiation. We have thus further evidenced that without RSNs, NIR irradiation alone had no effect on viral concentration, while the combination of RSNs with photothermia led to > 91% inactivation for all phages. This demonstrated an effective synergetic effect of both RSNs and irradiation on virus inactivation. A possible antibacterial activity of RSNs has also been studied and evidenced only a slowing of the bacteria growth whatever the RSNs concentration. Thus, all these findings highlight the potential of such non-functionalized superparamagnetic iron oxide nanostructures combined with photothermia for water disinfection in wastewater treatment applications.

Organic ligand-protected metal nanoclusters locating at critical dimensions, represented by Au₁₃₀(SR)₅₀, hold irreplaceable information and application potential due to their unique structure and properties. However, their efficient synthesis is still challenging, especially for the ones protected by less hindered ligands. Herein, we report an induced synthetic approach toward the less hindered ligand-protected Au₁₃₀(SR)₅₀ nanoclusters. By incorporating 2-(diphenylphosphanyl)pyridine borane adduct (NPB) as an inducer, we successfully synthesized a series of Au₁₃₀(SR)₅₀ nanoclusters protected by thiols with less steric hindrance, including 1-propanthiol, 1-butanethiol, 1-pentanethiol, 1-hexanethiol, 1-heptanethiol, 1-octanethiol and 1-nonanethiol. This method features short reaction time, high yield, and straightforward purification. Further investigations revealed the ultrastability of less hindered ligand-protected Au₁₃₀(SR)₅₀ nanoclusters and the synergistic effect of nitrogen, phosphorus and boron sites on NPB for the induced synthesis.

In this study we employed density functional theory (DFT) using different levels of theory to investigate the structural, electronic, vibrational and optical properties of monomers and dimers SbI₃ and HgI₂ clusters as zero-dimensional units of inorganic molecular clusters (IMCs). The Franck Condon (FC), infrared (IR) and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopies were utilized to study the clusters. The result revealed the presence of weak van der Waals forces between the clusters and significant covalent bonding within the clusters. The electronic properties of the clusters exhibit high HOMO-LUMO gaps (i.e., 3.88 eV for SbI₃ monomer and 4.1 eV for HgI₃ monomer) along with associated chemical hardness values, which point to their high chemical stability indicating the potential for use as dielectric materials. The calculated vibrational properties of the clusters demonstrated their representative vibrational modes and associated frequencies, which agree with relevant experimental observations. Moreover, excited state gradient and vibronic structure tracking analyses shed light into the impact of dimerization on their spectroscopic signatures and the vibronic transitions. Both SbI₃ and HgI₂ molecular units exhibits optical activity in visible range indicating their potential as building block for novel inorganic molecular crystals.

Colemanite is an important boron mineral and has different applications. In this study, a new composite material (Col/CuO/Cel) composed of colemanite, CuO, and cellulose was synthesized and investigated as a multifunctional platform for various applications. The new composite and its underlying colemanite were used in adsorption and photocatalytic degradation studies to remove crystal violet (CV) from aqueous solution. The CV adsorption of colemanite and Col/CuO/Cel was found to follow the Langmuir isotherm and the Elovich kinetic model. Furthermore, the adsorption processes were determined to be endothermic. (:qmax) was calculated as 81.3 mg/g for colemanite and 57.47 mg/g for Col/CuO/Cel. Both sorbents achieved 99% adsorption efficiency. When colemanite and Col/CuO/Cel were used as photocatalysts, it was observed that the dye could be effectively degraded using a UVA lamp. While colemanite provided 95% photodegradation of the CV dye, the Col/CuO/Cel achieved 97%. During the degradation process, it was observed that colemanite followed a second-order kinetic model, while the Col/CuO/Cel composite followed a first-order kinetic model. Morphological characterization of colemanite and Col/CuO/Cel was carried out by SEM, and CuO and cellulose were observed to be dispersed in the heterogeneous colemanite structure. Structural characterization was carried out by EDX, FTIR, BET, XRD and XPS techniques. FTIR spectroscopy identified the B₃-O and B₄-O strains present in the colemanite structure. The crystal structure of the samples was revealed by XRD analysis. Additionally, research has shown that colemanite and Col/CuO/Cel can be used in multiple adsorption and photocatalytic degradation processes.

The development of high-performance visible-light photocatalysts is pivotal for advancing environmental remediation. While metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) show great promise as precursors, their photocatalytic efficiency hinges on precise pyrolysis control. This study presents a novel bismuth-doped photocatalyst (Bi@Cu-MOF-N500), fabricated through in-situ bismuth incorporation and subsequent calcination under a nitrogen atmosphere. This critical step successfully transforms the precursor into a CuO/Bi₂O₃ composite while uniquely preserving its porous architecture and surface hydroxyl groups. The resulting material exhibits a narrow band gap of 1.76 eV and demonstrates exceptional photocatalytic activity, achieving a 96.80% degradation rate of gentian violet (GV), which significantly outperforms its air-calcined counterpart. Mechanistic investigations reveal that the unique microstructure facilitates efficient charge carrier separation and migration, with hydroxyl radicals (·OH) being the dominant active species. This work highlights the profound impact of the calcination atmosphere on MOF-derived materials and offers a valuable strategy for designing advanced photocatalysts for wastewater treatment.

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A novel Bi@Cu-MOF photocatalyst was synthesized via an in-situ precipitation method and subsequently calcined under nitrogen and air atmospheres at high temperature, which exhibited exceptional degradation performance on GV.

Green synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using plant extracts offers an eco-friendly alternative to conventional chemical approaches. Yet, the influence of capsaicinoid content in Capsaicin spp. extract on the physicochemical and biological properties of AuNPs has not been systematically evaluated. This study, AuNPs were synthesized using three different Capsicum spp. i.e., Capsicum annuum (PM), Capsium chinense (KT), and Capsicum frutescens (CH). Capsaicinoid profiles in all extracts were determined using LC-MS/MS, the physicochemical characteristic of synthesized AuNPs were analyzed using UV-Vis spectroscopy, PSA, FT-IR, XRD, and TEM. The AuNPs were designated as PM-AuNPs, KT-AuNPs, and CH-AuNPs. The AuNPs then were assessed for their antioxidant activity by DPPH assay, and cytotoxic effects against HEK 293 kidney embryonic and MCF-7 breast cancer cells were evaluated using MTT. The potential anticancer activity was continued using live-dead staining and apoptosis assays. LC-MS/MS confirmed variations in capsaicin levels across the three extracts. UV-Vis spectra exhibited SPR peaks at 548 to 562 nm for AuNPs. The AuNPs had particle sizes ranged from 9.77 to 78.22 nm with a stars shape in KT and CH AuNPs and a spherical shape in PM-AuNPs, with zeta potentials below − 30 mV, indicating stable colloids of AuNPs. The FT-IR analysis suggested the involvement of phenolic and amide groups in nanoparticle capping and stabilization. Among the AuNPs produced, CH-AuNPs demonstrated the highest antioxidant activity (37.19 ± 3.79%), while PM-AuNPs exhibited the strongest cytotoxicity properties against MCF-7 cells (IC₅₀ = 131.43 µg/mL), without harming to normal HEK 293 cells. Overall, this study highlights that capsaicinoid content modulates the physicochemical and biological properties of green-synthesized AuNPs, identifying C. annuum is promising candidates for antioxidant and anticancer nanotherapeutics.

Cancer is the second greatest cause of death globally. It is a chronic, diverse disease that can present with a wide range of severe clinical symptoms. The objective of the current study was to assess the anticancer properties of chitosan-conjugated Citrullus lanatus–silver-titanium oxide bimetallic nanocomposites (Cl-CS-Ag@TiO₂ BMNCs) and their effect on the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in HeLa cervical cancer cells. These bioengineered nanocomposites offer an effective substitute therapeutic strategy with improved biocompatibility and potency by targeting and inhibiting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling cascade in HeLa cervical cancer cells. Citrullus lanatus seed extract was used to create Cl-CS-Ag@TiO₂ BMNCs, which were then examined using XRD, DLS, zeta potential, EDX, SEM, and UV-vis spectroscopy. The MTT test was used to measure cytotoxicity in HeLa and normal Ect1/E6E7 cells. Intracellular levels of antioxidants and mitochondrial function (MMP, ATP) were assessed. AO/EtBr dual labelling was used for verifying apoptosis, and RT-PCR was used to evaluate the gene expression of Bax, Bad, Bcl-2, and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway markers. Dose-dependent cytotoxicity was observed in HeLa cells with an IC₅₀ of 7 µg/mL while showing minimal toxicity to normal cervical Ect1/E6E7 cells. Additionally, the treatment altered mitochondrial function, lowering ATP and MMP values and increasing internal ROS, which may indicate oxidative stress-induced apoptosis. At the IC₅₀ dosage, 77.45% of cells were proven to be apoptotic by AO/EtBr dual labelling. Cl-CS-Ag@TiO₂ BMNCs effectively suppressed proliferation and induced apoptosis at the cellular level by upregulating pro-apoptotic genes (Bax, Bad), downregulating anti-apoptotic Bcl-2, and dramatically inhibiting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signalling pathway. All things considered, biogenically generated Cl-CS-Ag@TiO₂ BMNCs have strong anticancer effects on cervical cancer cells. Before being used in clinical settings, more in vivo research is necessary to confirm the potential for therapy.

Graphical Abstract

Schematic Representation of Cl-Ag@TiO2 nanoparticles mediated by Citrullus lanatus seed: A novel target for cervical cancer therapy via suppression of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway

Compared with peroxidase, oxidase does not rely on H₂O₂ as a substrate, and usually has high selectivity towards substrates, catalyzing specific oxidation reactions. Fortunately, in the work, mono V-substituted phosphomolybdic acid H₄[PMo₁₁VO₄₀] (PMo₁₁V₁) was the first substance to be discovered with similar enzymatic activity and exhibited an extremely rapid reaction rat. Where the coexistence of Mo⁶⁺/Mo⁵⁺ and V⁵⁺/V⁴⁺ after the reaction implies that the transformation between elemental oxidation states dominates the reaction mechanism, rather than a unidirectional decrease. More specifically, high valent Mo and multi-valent V can catalyze the oxygen in water to generate O₂^·−, ·OH, and H₂O₂, a cascade catalytic reaction, further catalyze H₂O₂ into ·OH. With the reducibility of tannic acid (TA), a convenient, sensitive and effective colorimetric platform for TA detection was successful established, which shows good respond toward TA with a linear relationship in the range of 0-100 µM and a low detection limit of 0.34 µM. Also the application of the PMo₁₁V₁ sensor for TA detection in real tea was demonstrated and satisfactory results was obtained.

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Psoriasis is a chronic, inflammatory skin disorder affecting millions worldwide. Topical treatment still lacks therapeutic efficacy, even with prolonged treatment periods. The current study focuses on developing dissolvable microneedles (DMN) loaded with berberine glycerosomes (BBR-GM) to enhance skin penetration and therapeutic efficacy. The thin-film hydration method was used to create BBR-GM, which was then optimized using Design-Expert software. The vesicle size of the optimized BBR-GM is 130.1 ± 2.19 nm with PDI of 0.211 ± 0.03, and an entrapment efficiency of 85.5 ± 3.15%. The developed BBR-GM-loaded DMN maintained its structural integrity (folding endurance of 101.52 ± 4.5 and 5.17 ± 0.88 N/mm for the tensile strength), confirming its durability. The in vitro release study revealed that the BBR-GM formulation sustained 77.53 ± 4.98% drug release over 24 h, whereas the BBR suspension released 91.50 ± 3.98% within 6 h. An ex vivo study revealed a 1.8-fold increase in the permeation compared to the drug suspension. A dermatokinetic study found that BBR-GM-DMN retained more BBR in the epidermis and dermis (p < 0.05), due to improved penetration from MN and nanoscale vesicles, resulting in more effective drug delivery. Overall, this dual glycerosome-microneedle approach provides a viable, potentially applicable strategy for enhancing the topical treatment of psoriasis.

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