Journal of Cluster Science最新文献

Parasitic infections, particularly by Babesiosoma spp., severely impact aquaculture productivity, leading to compromised fish health and significant economic burdens. This research presents the fabrication and comprehensive evaluation of an innovative carboxylated cellulose nanocrystals/zinc oxide (CCNs/ZnO) bio-nanohybrid, derived sustainably from date palm fronds, as a therapeutic agent against Babesiosoma infection in African catfish (Clarias gariepinus). Advanced characterization techniques confirmed the successful formation and distribution of the ZnO nanoparticles within the CCN matrix. To gain unprecedented molecular insights into host-parasite interactions and treatment efficacy, we designed a robust in vivo experimental model comprising four distinct groups: Group A (Negative Control) of non-infected fish fed a basal diet; Group B (Infected Control) of Babesiosoma spp.-infected fish fed a basal diet; Group C (Low Concentration Treatment) of infected fish supplemented with 50 mg CCNs/ZnO per kg of diet; and Group D (High Concentration Treatment) of infected fish supplemented with a potent 70 mg CCNs/ZnO per kg of diet. We then conducted comprehensive gene expression profiling using novel, meticulously designed primers targeting a broad spectrum of immune, erythropoiesis, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and metabolic genes. Our study revealed that Babesiosoma infection induced a cascade of detrimental effects in the Infected Control group, including stunted growth, dysregulated immune responses (elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines, reduced TGF-β1), severe anemia marked by suppressed erythropoiesis-related genes, increased oxidative stress (hsp70 upregulation, antioxidant gene downregulation), heightened apoptosis, and significant multi-organ pathology. Strikingly, dietary administration of the CCNs/ZnO bio-nanohybrid dose-dependently reversed these debilitating effects, with the High Concentration Treatment (Group D) demonstrating the most potent and comprehensive therapeutic benefits. Supplemented fish, particularly those receiving the high dose, exhibited restored growth, balanced immune gene expression, enhanced red blood cell production, improved antioxidant capacity, reduced cellular apoptosis, normalized metabolism, and remarkable histopathological recovery. Our findings provide compelling evidence for the multifaceted benefits of this eco-friendly bio-nanohybrid in fortifying fish health against parasitic challenges, promising a sustainable advancement in aquaculture disease management.

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The development of sustainable, high-performance electrode materials is critical for next-generation energy storage devices. In this study, nitrogen-doped activated carbon (N-AC) was derived from pistachio shell waste through carbonization, KOH activation, and nitrogen doping using urea. The N-AC was then decorated with cobalt sulfide (CoS) nanoparticles via hydrothermal synthesis to yield CoS@N-AC composites with 10, 20, and 30 wt% CoS loadings. TEM and SEM images revealed uniformly dispersed CoS nanoparticles anchored on the porous carbon matrix. FTIR and XPS analysis confirmed the successful doping of nitrogen (pyridinic-N, graphitic-N) and the formation of Co–S bonds, as well as redox-active Co²⁺/Co³⁺ and S²⁻ species. BET analysis showed a high specific surface area of 1501 m²/g for N-AC, which slightly decreased to 1179 m²/g for 20CoS@N-AC due to partial pore blocking. Electrochemical evaluation in a 3.0 M KOH electrolyte revealed that 20CoS@N-AC achieved the highest specific capacitance of 857 F/g at 1 A/g in a three-electrode configuration, and excellent cycling stability with 95.8% capacitance retention after 10,000 cycles. EIS measurements showed a low equivalent series resistance (Rs ≈ 1.25 Ω) and the lowest Rct (≈ 2.65 Ω) in case of 20CoS@N-AC. When applied in a symmetric two-electrode device, 20CoS@N-AC delivered a specific capacitance of 537 F/g, with an energy density of 32.2 Wh/kg and power density of 4.0 KW/kg. These results demonstrate the synergistic enhancement in charge storage properties due to nitrogen doping and CoS incorporation, offering a green and scalable strategy for high-performance supercapacitor electrodes from biomass waste.

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Mucosal tissues serve as critical protective barriers in the human body and are coated with a diverse array of glycan-rich, saccharide-substituted compounds. In this study, we investigate the potential of saccharide-functionalised nanoparticles to selectively target these glycans, with a view toward drug delivery applications. Spherical silica nanoparticles were synthesised and covalently functionalised with glucosamine or galactosamine. Characterisation through biological assays, binding studies, and dynamic light scattering confirmed their capacity to interact with mucin-II (MUC2) and mucin-overexpressing cell lines. Notably, particles functionalised with galactose or glucose demonstrated strong affinity for MUC2 in suspension and showed enhanced binding to Caco-2 cells compared to non-saccharide modified particles. These findings highlight the potential of glycan-targeting nanoparticles as a platform for mucosal drug delivery.

Cancer is the second greatest cause of death worldwide and it is a chronic, diverse disease that can present with a wide range of severe clinical symptoms. The numerous shortcomings of the cancer treatments available today lead to ineffective management, which highlights the need for alternative strategies. The goal of the current study is to assess the anticancer properties of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs), which were biosynthesised using Artemisia vulgaris stem extract and are designed to disrupt the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signalling pathway in colon cancer cell line (HT-29). Conventional physicochemical methods were used to characterise the biogenic CuO NPs, confirmed their crystalline composition and nanoscale shape.ROS generation was quantified using the DCFH-DA stain, and their effects on cell cycle progression, apoptosis induction, ROS formation, and cytotoxicity were systematically evaluated. The biosynthesised CuO NPs exhibited dose-dependent cytotoxicity (IC₅₀: 11.60 µg/mL) and significantly enhanced ROS generation, disrupted mitochondrial potential, induced apoptosis, and altered cell cycle progression. Western blot analysis confirmed downregulation of key proliferative proteins, indicating strong inhibition of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signalling. These findings were further supported by in silico docking studies, which demonstrated the strong binding affinity of A. vulgaris phytocomponents with PI3K, AKT, and mTOR, indicating integrated regulation of both proliferative and apoptotic pathways. Collectively, the outcomes clearly demonstrate that biogenic CuO NPs possess significant anticancer properties against HT-29 colon cancer cells, and prior to their commercial application, further in vivo studies will be required to validate their apoptosis-inducing efficacy.

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This work presents several significant novelties in the field of histamine detection and biosensing through the development of nitrogen and iron co-doped carbon dots (N, Fe@CDs) with intrinsic peroxidase-like activity. The dual-mode sensing mechanism is particularly innovative, simultaneously exploiting both the colorimetric conversion of 2,3,5-triphenyl-2 H-tetrazolium chloride (TTC) to formazan and the fluorescence enhancement of the carbon dots N, Fe@CDs. This approach cleverly integrates enzymatic specificity through porcine diamine oxidase (DAO) with nanozyme catalysis. The ability to achieve both visual detection and fluorometric analysis for precise measurements. The developed dual-mode sensing platform demonstrates excellent analytical performance with both colorimetric and fluorometric detection modes showing linear detection ranges of 1.0–60.0 µM and 0.1–13.0 µM, achieving limits of detection of 0.28 µM and 0.034 µM respectively, with strong linearity (R² >0.9959). The method was successfully applied to determine histamine levels in different fish products, demonstrating excellent accuracy with percentage recovery values ranging from 97.11 to 102.0%. The successful application to diverse fish products demonstrates the practical versatility of this sensing strategy, overcoming matrix interference challenges. This multifunctional nanomaterial-based approach represents a significant advancement in developing cost-effective, user-friendly analytical tools for food quality control and safety assessment.

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The escalating crisis of antimicrobial resistance demands innovative and sustainable solutions. This study presents an eco-friendly approach for synthesizing manganese oxide nanoparticles (MnO₂ NPs) using Cordia myxa fruit extract, a medicinal plant rich in bioactive compounds that serves as both reducing and capping agents. Comprehensive characterization of the nanoparticles was performed using UV–Vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). UV–Vis spectroscopy represents the optical properties of the synthesized NPs, while TEM revealed platelet-shaped morphology with an average size range of 20–50 nm. FTIR spectroscopy identified characteristic functional groups, including phenolic -OH and carbonyl (C = O) stretches, which contribute to nanoparticle stabilization. The biosynthesized MnO₂ NPs exhibited significant antibacterial activity against Multidrug resistant (MDR) bacterial strains, demonstrating particularly strong efficacy against Bacillus cereus (MIC: 0.60%; MBC: 1.20%) and Escherichia coli (MIC: 0.62%; MBC: 1.25%). Antibacterial evaluation through well diffusion assays showed concentration-dependent inhibition zones, while time-kill kinetics revealed complete bactericidal activity at 2 MIC. Protein leakage assay and Propidium iodide (PI) uptake assays confirmed membrane disruption as the primary bactericidal mechanism. The NPs also inhibited biofilm formation by 90.86 ± 2.50% at 2 MIC. Additionally, antioxidant assessments revealed significant free radical scavenging capacity in both DPPH and FRAP assays at 150 µg/mL concentration, attributable to their phenolic content. This study highlights Cordia myxa derived MnO₂ NPs as a sustainable nanoplatform for combating MDR infections, merging green chemistry with multifunctional biological applications.

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Here we present adsorption and decomposition behaviour of sarin, a nerve gas molecule, on Zn₁₂O₁₂ and Cu₁₂O₁₂ cluster, as representative model for ZnO and CuO surface, using DFT formalism. LCAO-MO based approach has been adopted in the present study. For both the cluster systems investigated, sarin is found to interact with these clusters via dative bond involving lone-pair of phosphoryl oxygen as donor and Zn/Cu atom as acceptor. Sarin is found to undergo decomposition on these clusters via dissociation of O–isopropyl bond. The intrinsic reaction coordinate (IRC) analysis was performed for characterizing the transition states associated with decomposition of adsorbed sarin on Zn₁₂O₁₂ and Cu₁₂O₁₂ clusters. Gibbs free energy of activation (ΔG^ǂ) for decomposition of sarin is estimated to be 31.62 and 28.30 kcal/mol, for Zn₁₂O₁₂ and Cu₁₂O₁₂ clusters respectively. Our studies indicate that though decomposition of sarin on these substrates is thermodynamically favourable, the reaction rate of sarin decomposition is slow at room temperature. Thus implying requirement of higher temperature for the decomposition reaction, to be kinetically feasible.

Nanotechnology has displayed widespread application across various sectors due to the unique properties of nanomaterials, particularly nanoparticles (NPs). Tin dioxide (SnO₂) semiconductors have garnered significant attention for their exceptional electrical, optical, and biological properties, which differ considerably from their bulk counterparts due to quantum confinement effects. This review focuses on the biomedical applications of SnO₂ NPs, highlighting their roles in antibacterial, antioxidant, and antifungal activities. The enhanced antibacterial efficacy of SnO₂, especially when doped with transition metals, is attributed to its ability to generate reactive oxygen species that disrupt bacterial cell membranes. The review also discusses the mechanisms underlying these activities, the influence of doping and synthesis methods on the properties of SnO₂, and the potential of SnO₂ NPs in drug delivery, biosensing, and tumor targeting. Although SnO₂ demonstrates significant potential in nanomedicine, challenges such as optimizing biocompatibility and stability still remain. The article concludes by proposing future directions for developing and applying SnO₂-based nanomaterials in biomedical fields.

Carbendazim, a widely used benzimidazole fungicide, poses significant environmental and health risks, necessitating sensitive analytical methods for its determination in food and environmental samples. A novel dual-emission iron and nitrogen co-doped carbon dots nanozyme with fluorescent bands at 440 nm and 522 nm was developed, functioning simultaneously as both ratiometric probe and peroxidase mimic. The nanozyme catalyzes 3,3’,5,5’-tetramethylbenzidine oxidation in hydrogen peroxide presence, generating blue oxidized 3,3’,5,5’-tetramethylbenzidine that quenches the 522 nm emission while 440 nm serves as internal reference. Carbendazim scavenges reactive oxygen species, suppressing oxidized 3,3’,5,5’-tetramethylbenzidine formation and restoring 522 nm fluorescence, producing a self-calibrating fluorescence ratio immune to environmental variations. Additionally, the reduction of oxidized 3,3’,5,5’-tetramethylbenzidine color upon carbendazim addition enables colorimetric detection. Kinetic studies revealed excellent peroxidase-like activity with Michaelis-Menten parameters. The dual-mode sensing platform achieved linear responses of 3.0–18.0 ng/mL (colorimetric, limit of detection = 1.25 ng/mL) and 1.0–38.0 ng/mL (fluorometric, limit of detection = 0.64 ng/mL) for carbendazim detection. Successful application to fruit and water samples demonstrated excellent accuracy with recovery rates of 96.89–102.00%, representing the first integration of carbon dots-based peroxidase mimicry with ratiometric fluorescence detection for carbendazim analysis.

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Creating outstanding Type I heterostructures with improved catalytic characteristics is crucial for addressing the environmental pollution derived from pharmaceutical contamination. In this work, we introduced a robust Bi₇O₉I₃/Bi₄O₅Br₂ heterojunction prepared by facile hydrothermal integrated with physical sonication to degrade the levofloxacin (LEV) antibiotic under photocatalytic and piezophotocatalytic reactions. The optimized Bi₇O₉I₃/Bi₄O₅Br₂-25% exhibited eminently promoted photoactivity with 91.5% of LEV degradation in 60 min. The enhanced LEV decomposition can be ascribed to acceleration of charge separation by Type I heterojunction, expanding the light utilization, and formation of internal electric field. Moreover, the optimized Bi₇O₉I₃/Bi₄O₅Br₂-25% revealed super piezophotocatalytic activity under ultrasound vibration and LED irradiation with an LEV degradation rate of 0.12429 min⁻¹, exceeding both photocatalytic and piezocatalytic reactions by 3.17 and 5.79 times, respectively. This indicates the ability of Bi₇O₉I₃/Bi₄O₅Br₂-25% to work to deform under mechanical stress to establish an internal piezoelectric field, synergistically reinforcing the photocarrier transportation with the Type I mechanism. Furthermore, the developed Bi₇O₉I₃/Bi₄O₅Br₂-25% hybrid demonstrated excellent efforts in degrading a broad range of antibiotics, including tetracycline (TC), norfloxacin (NOR), and ciprofloxacin (CIP). Besides, the effect of various operational conditions, such as inorganic anions, solution pH, and trapping agents, was systematically examined to further explain the photocatalytic mechanism. Our study introduces an economic and energy-efficient strategy for the rapid photocatalytic degradation of LEV antibiotics, opening an encouraging path for solar-driven photocatalysis using a Type I heterojunction system.

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