Journal of Cluster Science最新文献

A bionanoparticle was fabricated using a facile one-pot green synthesis assisted through Hydrothermal Carbonization and evaluated for its potential as a catalyst in Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) for wastewater treatment. Bio-wastes like onion peel, corn husk and groundnut shell has been employed for green synthesis of Copper-Chitosan bionanoparticles which were characterised for their optical, physical and structural properties with the available technologies to study their composition. The onion peel extract undergone Carbonization along with Chitosan during the Hydrothermal Carbonization process, has augmented the bionanoparticle to function as a visible light active photocatalyst. The synthesized materials were utilized for the degradation of dye and drug using the AOP like Photocatalysis, Fenton-like and Photo-Fenton process. The onion peel extracts aided bionanoparticles excelled in degrading Methylene Blue dye under 15 W LED, achieving 95.9% efficiency in 120 min. Additionally, it functioned as a Fenton-like catalyst, degrading Methylene Blue dye in 60 min with 96.2% efficiency, and as a Photo-Fenton catalyst, achieving 98.1% efficiency in 25 min. Since the catalyst had higher efficiency in short time for Photo-Fenton degradation, it has been optimized by adjusting parameters such as concentration of catalyst and dye, as well for varied pH levels. The catalyst achieved 90.7% efficiency during its fifth stability cycle study. For Rifampicin drug degradation, the observed efficiency was 97.1% in 70 min. This work provides a green way of synthesizing bionanoparticles and its utilization towards the waste water treatment towards degrading the emerging pollutants.

Polyacrylamide (PAM) hydrogels are biocompatible, highly swellable, tunable, and cost-effective, making them attractive for biomedical and industrial applications. They have been used in cartilage repair, drug delivery, magnetic biosensors, and wound dressings. This review focuses on magneto-responsive PAM ferrogels grafted with magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) and outlines their design strategies, including in-situ precipitation, blending, and grafting-onto methods. The review further discusses therapeutic applications, such as targeted drug delivery, cell biology studies, tissue engineering, and soft actuators. Recent studies are critically examined to highlight how different design approaches influence nanoparticle encapsulation, bonding, mechanical properties, and overall hydrogel performance. The effects of these strategies on cell survival, migration, and proliferation are also summarized, demonstrating the clinical potential of PAM ferrogels. Finally, the review considers future directions, emphasizing the potential of magnetic PAM ferrogels as versatile biomaterials bridging laboratory research and industrial or clinical applications, and identifies key challenges for their translation into practical biomedical technologies.

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A series of heterometallic carboxylate complexes [Co₂Ln(NO₃)(piv)₆(bpy)₂] (Ln = La (1), Eu (2), Gd (3); piv is pivalate-anion, bpy is 2,2′-bipyridine) was synthesized and characterized by means of single crystal as well as powder X-ray diffraction. Compounds 1 and 2 are field-induced single molecule magnets in which slow magnetic relaxation mainly attributed to the Raman and quantum tunneling of the magnetization (for 1) or Raman and direct (for 2) mechanisms which is typical for five-coordinated Co(II) ions. Compound 3 does not show single molecule magnet behavior.

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Wound healing remains a significant clinical challenge, particularly in chronic and non-healing wounds where conventional treatments often prove inadequate. Improving bioactivity and biocompatibility presents promising avenues for incorporating smart technology into therapeutic approaches. Such enhancements are critical for addressing limitations associated with wound healing strategies. Traditional therapies often show limitations due to their lack of adaptability to diverse wound types and pathological situations, leading to a higher risk of infection and delayed healing. Nanotechnology offers the potential to revolutionize traditional wound care by utilizing nanomaterials that possess remarkable properties, such as increased surface area, enhanced reactivity, and the ability to be tailored for specific therapeutic purposes. Inorganic-based nanomaterials have recently emerged as promising candidates to revolutionize wound management due to their unique physicochemical properties and therapeutic functionalities. This review explores the latest advancements in metal and metal oxide nanoparticles, such as silver, gold, zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, and cutting-edge materials like MXenes, which exhibit broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, anti-inflammatory effects, and the ability to stimulate tissue regeneration. Despite these promising developments, challenges such as toxicity and limited biodegradability should be addressed before clinical translation can be fully realized. By critically examining current research and highlighting innovative approaches, this review underscores the transformative potential of inorganic nanomaterials in next-generation wound healing therapies and identifies key opportunities for future exploration.

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The continuous discharge of organic dyes into water bodies has adverse effects on the environment and human health. The primary objective of this research was to prepare a novel biocatalyst by modifying green synthesized NiO/TiO₂ nanocomposites (NCs) with chitosan (Cts) biopolymer. NiO/TiO₂ NCs were successfully fabricated via green route utilizing an extract of Hyssopus officinalis plant. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the crystalline structure of the synthesized materials. The successful deposition of HO-NiO/TiO₂ on the surface of Cts was observed by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) analysis. Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and elemental mapping (MAP) analyses demonstrated the presence of Ni, Ti, O, C, and N elements in the HO-NiO/TiO₂@Cts NCs. The functional groups of NCs were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis. The specific surface area and band gap value of the HO-NiO/TiO₂@Cts NCs were determined by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) analyses, respectively. Compared to HO-NiO/TiO₂, the HO-NiO/TiO₂@Cts NCs demonstrated better visible light photocatalytic activity for bromocresol green (BCG) and safranin O (SO) degradation, which could be attributed to the potential effect of Cts polymer. Addition of Cts improved the photocatalytic performance of HO-NiO/TiO₂, because it increased its surface area, enhancing the light-harvesting ability, and boosting the adsorption capacity. Under optimum reaction conditions, the photocatalytic efficiency of BCG by HO-NiO/TiO₂ and HO-NiO/TiO₂@Cts NCs, after 50 min of light, were 73% and 99%, respectively, while that of SO, after 120 min of light, were 61% and 87%. The rate constant values of HO-NiO/TiO₂ and HO-NiO/TiO₂@Cts NCs for BCG were calculated to be 0.0207 min⁻¹ and 0.0806 min⁻¹, respectively, and for SO 0.0068 min⁻¹ and 0.0151 min⁻¹, respectively. Reusability and regeneration studies showed the effectiveness of HO-NiO/TiO₂@Cts in degrading BCG and SO across multiple test cycles. The photocatalytic degradation mechanism was elucidated based on the scavenger experimental result. Overall, the sustainable and eco-friendly fabrication process of HO-NiO/TiO₂@Cts NCs, coupled with its outstanding capability to degrade cationic and anionic dyes, offers remarkable potential in wastewater treatment systems.

NiO/CeO₂/MoS₂–MoO₃ heterostructured photocatalysts were synthesized via a hydrothermal method and evaluated for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution from formic acid under UV and visible light irradiation. The design strategy integrated oxygen vacancies in CeO₂, sulfur vacancies in MoS₂, and the electron-trapping capacity of Ni/NiO to enhance charge separation and light harvesting. Four compositions (NCM-145, NCM-334, NCM-352, NCM-523) with varied Ni, CeO₂, and MoS₂/MoO₃ mass ratios were comprehensively characterized using TEM, SAED, XRD, UV-DRS, PL, Raman, and XPS analyses. Among these, NCM-334 (3 wt% Ni / 3 wt% CeO₂ / 4 wt% MoS₂) achieved the highest hydrogen production rate (386 µmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹) under UV light, sustained notable activity under visible light, and exhibited an optimal band gap (3.17 eV), high crystallinity, and efficient electron–hole separation. PL confirmed reduced recombination, and XPS verified the presence of Ni²⁺, Ce⁴⁺/Ce³⁺, and Mo⁴⁺/Mo⁶⁺ species contributing to redox activity. The optimized NCM-334 achieved a conversion of 91.7% and selectivity of 94.4%, underscoring the critical role of compositional tuning in heterostructure catalysts for sustainable hydrogen production from formic acid.

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A novel non-enzymatic electrochemical glucose sensor based on NiCo alloy nanoparticles embedded on nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (NiCo/N-CNTs) was synthesized via a melamine-assisted pyrolysis strategy. The in situ growth approach ensures intimate contact between the metal alloy and conductive CNT network, enhancing electron transfer and catalytic activity. The as-prepared sensor exhibits excellent glucose sensing performance, including a wide linear range (5–18000 µM), low detection limit (1.7 µM, S/N = 3), and high sensitivities of 59.57 and 24.05 µA·mM⁻¹·cm⁻² in different concentration regions. The sensor also displays remarkable selectivity toward glucose over common interfering species. Furthermore, the sensor was successfully integrated with a smartphone-controlled portable electrochemical device, achieving accurate glucose detection. Recovery tests using serum samples yielded satisfactory results, with recovery rates ranging from 100.98% to 102.68% and RSDs below 3%, confirming the practical feasibility of the platform. This work not only provides a robust strategy for constructing high-performance non-enzymatic glucose sensors but also highlights the potential of combining nanomaterials with portable electronics for point-of-care diagnostic applications.

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Enzyme is an active area of research in the context of nanoscience. Lysozyme is a readily available enzyme with significant antibacterial properties. Lysozyme is widely used to synthesize and stabilize coinage metal nanoclusters, hindering further aggregation to form nanocrystals. We discussed synthesis methods, fate, formation mechanisms, and applications of superatomic coinage metal nanoclusters, passivated with lysozyme. We also reviewed the effect of physicochemical properties and synergistic behaviour regarding such coinage metal nanoclusters, passivated with histidine. The review will hopefully open a new window to generate other enzyme-stabilized, atomically precise, and biocompatible nanoclusters for biomedical as well as environmental science.

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Role of lysozyme in the evolution & stabilization of coinage metal nanocluster for myriad applications

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) have been recently used in different biomedical applications such as antimicrobial alternatives, drug delivery, and bioimaging. MSNs might be synthesized via green synthesize techniques as a sustainable and environmentally friendly approach, to develop physical properties for nanomedicine applications. In this study, Resveratrol (Res) extract, a polyphenol, was used as the stable and reducing agent for the green synthesis of Res-templated Au-decorated MSNs. Several analytical techniques were used to characterize the samples, like scanning electron microscopy (SEM), brauer-emmett-teller (BET) analysis, zeta-potential, x-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Ultraviolet-visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and energy-dispersive system (EDS) spectroscopy. TEM results indicated that Au nanoparticles with the 10 nm mean size were covered on the MSNs’ surfaces effectively. The cytotoxicity analysis was evaluated through the MTT assay. Res-templated Au-decorated MSNs indicated low cytotoxicity and acceptable safety even at high concentrations. The results indicate that the green synthesized Res-templated Au-decorated MSNs could be applicable in biomedical in the next future.

A series of [2 × 2] square lattice rare earth complexes Nd₄L₄ (1), Pr₄L₄ (2), and Eu₄L₄ (3) with Schiff base ligands were synthesized. The precise molecular structure of the complex was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The chemical composition, phase purity and thermal stability of the complexes were systematically studied by infrared spectroscopy (IR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), elemental analysis (EA) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The results show that these complexes not only have excellent thermal stability, but also are rich in multiple rare earth metal active centers in the structure, providing abundant active sites for catalytic reactions. The catalytic results show that they not only have mild reaction conditions but also show excellent catalytic performance, with satisfactory conversion rate and good turnover frequency (TOF, value up to 6625 h⁻¹). These results indicate that polynuclear lanthanide complexes have great power as catalysts for the chemical fixation of CO₂, which provides some new idea s for the design of efficient catalysts in this field.

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Entry for the Table of Contents: With the increase of CO₂ emissions, there is an urgent need for breakthrough solutions to address the issue of CO₂ balance in the atmosphere. Converting CO₂ into high value-added products is of great significance for reducing emissions. This study synthesized a novel class of Schiff base lanthanide complexes, which were used as catalysts for the chemical fixation of CO₂ into cyclic carbonates and exhibited excellent performance.