Journal of Cluster Science最新文献

Globally, the major threat is the rise of antimicrobial-resistant diseases and the increasing incidence of cancer, both of which are leading causes of death due to a lack of effective therapies. Nanocomposites (NCs) have recently emerged as an alternative therapeutic agent for the development of novel medications. The current study demonstrates the fast production of Ag-HAp NCs with an aqueous bark extract of Acacia nilotica and evaluates their antiquorum sensing and anticancer activities. UV-vis spectroscopy, Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, zeta sizer, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy were used to evaluate the physicochemical and morphological observations of Ag-HAp NCs. The biofabricated NCs demonstrated the ability to inhibit the violacein production in bioreporter strain Chromobacterium violaceum and mitigate the virulent factors in multidrug-resistant Proteus mirabilis. Sub-MIC concentrations of 2% Ag-HAp NCs (80 µg/mL) efficiently decreased the quorum sensing regulated virulence factors such as biofilm formation, exopolysaccharide synthesis, urease, hemolysin, and cell motility, that contribute to antibiotic resistance. Furthermore, an invitro cytotoxicity study of 2% Ag-HAp NCs revealed exceptional anticancer potential against the MCF-7 cell line using MTT assay. The microscopic studies (ROS and DAPI assay) demonstrated that the synthesized NCs elicit cellular cytotoxicity at a low dosage (IC₅₀ − 23.2 µg/mL). All experiments were carried out in triplicate (n = 3) to establish the statistical significance. Thus, phyto-mediated synthesized 2% Ag-HAp NCs are environmentally acceptable and non-toxic nanomaterials suitable for biomedical applications.

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The timely repair of injured skin is of outmost importance as the impaired wound healing may provoke infections, formation of scarring tissues, and delayed wound closure. ThQ + Rut-loaded NC gel was produced using the ultrasonication nanoprecipitation technique and investigated for dermal wound healing. Formulations were characterized for particle size distribution, and ζ − potential, % drug entrapment, and % loading. The optimum NC gel was characterized for viscosity, spreadability, and gel texture. The optimized nanocrystal gel was produced and tested on fibroblast cell line and tested in vivo for healing assessment. The optimum particle size of obtained NC was 192 ± 2 nm, PDI of 0.201, with a ζ-potential of -9.9 ± 1.9 mV. Further, Rut and ThQ entrapment and loading from ThQ + Rut-loaded NC gel, were measured to 89 ± 0.9%, 85.7 ± 1.5%; 21 ± 2%, and 17.5 ± 2%. The NC gel showed viscosity of 1488 ± 0.12 mPa*s at shear rate of 40 (1/s). The hydrogel texture analysis revealed firmness, consistency and cohesiveness of 43.88 g, 208.19 g.sec, and − 15.88 g, respectively. The cell viability studies revealed that Rutin and ThQ in NC gel significantly enhanced proliferation of fibroblast cell vis-a-vis to drug suspensions (p < 0.01). The histopathology demonstrated that ThQ + Rut-loaded NC gel improved collagen formation and tissue remodelling towards wound healing compared with other treatment groups. Thus, we may conclude that Rut and ThQ from nanocrystal gel is safe and will improve the dermal wound healing process.

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) are a sustainable, biodegradable, and versatile material with numerous advantageous and potential applications in diverse industries. For the first time, CNC was derived from the biomass of Dictyota bartayresiana, a brown seaweed from Dictyotaceae, having commercial value and therapeutic benefits. This process involved comprehensive extraction techniques, including acid hydrolysis and mechanical dispersion, to transform the seaweed into nanocellulosic material. The structural analysis, conducted via Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), affirmed that the resulting CNC displayed an average width of approximately 26 nm and a length extending to 520 nm long. X-ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis indicated that these extracted CNC constituted around 62% of the crystallinity index. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectral analysis confirmed the successive removal of non-cellulosic components through chemical treatments. Elemental analysis (CHNS) validated the presence of sulfate groups, accounting for 0.59%. Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) results unveiled the superior thermal stability of the extracted CNC.

Ceria-supported copper catalysts exhibit high catalytic performance in the preferential oxidation of CO in excess H₂ (CO PROX). Highly dispersed copper oxide species have been experimentally identified as active centers. However, structural diagnostics of highly dispersed CuO_x species and CuO_x/CeO₂ interface areas remains a challenge. Here, we report a comprehensive structural study of a supported CuO/CeO₂ catalyst (5 wt% Cu) showing good activity in the CO PROX process. X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) techniques and X-ray atomic pair distribution function (PDF) analysis were used as efficient methods for probing the atomic resolution structure. It was established that the catalyst contains Cu²⁺ species, mainly in the form of ultra-dispersed CuO-like particles and copper oxide clusters. Analysis of the local atomic arrangement revealed an interaction between copper ions and ceria surface. Oxygen-terminated {100} ceria facets can accommodate Cu²⁺ ions in square planar coordination. Moreover, some Cu ions are inserted into the CeO₂ crystal structure, forming a substitutional solid solution.

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The increasing antibiotic resistance necessitates sustainable methods for synthesizing antibacterial nanoparticles. This study focuses on the bio-assisted synthesis of silver/silver chloride nanoparticles (Ag/AgCl-NPs) using aqueous extracts of Acalypha arvensis, Hampea rovirosae, and Inga jinicuil. Polyphenols and flavonoids were quantified, and functional groups were analyzed via Fourier-transform infrared to assess their influence on the properties of Ag/AgCl-NPs. The effects of thermal treatment at 60 and 500 °C on the NPs’ size, morphology, and antibacterial efficacy were assessed. UV–Vis spectroscopy indicated absorption peaks between 430 and 449 nm, while X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the presence of metallic Ag and a cubic AgCl structure, with crystallite sizes ranging from 11–51 and 28–60 nm, respectively. Dynamic light scattering showed hydrodynamic sizes of up to 127.2 ± 0.9 nm at 60 °C and up to 348.9 ± 10.7 nm at 500 °C. Field emission scanning electron microscopy micrographs exhibited a quasi-spherical morphology with significant agglomeration; showing particle sizes between 55 ± 11 and 81 ± 28 nm at 60 °C, and up to 135 ± 65 nm at 500 °C. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed the metallic silver (Ag⁰), organic molecules, and absorbed chlorides on the NP surface. Pearson correlation analysis indicated a strong positive correlation between polyphenol content and NPs yield (r = 0.922), while it indicated a strong negative correlation with flavonoid content (r = −0.996). Additionally, a negative correlation was found between hydrodynamic size and antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (r = −0.854). The Ag/AgCl-NPs, after drying at 60 and 500 °C, were tested against Escherichia coli and S. aureus with minimum bactericidal concentrations below 19 µg/mL against E. coli. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for Ag/AgCl-NPs synthesized with A. arvensis and H. rovirosae extracts were above 312 µg/mL for S. aureus, while those synthesized with I. jinicuil showed MIC as low as 156 µg/mL. These results highlight the potential of medicinal plant extracts in the synthesis of Ag/AgCl with enhanced antibacterial properties.

The unique features of trimetallic nanoalloys to be used in biomedical applications have taken more attention instead those of mono and bimetallic nanoparticles. Leaf aqueous extract of Nitraria retusa was utilized for the first time to synthesize trimetallic Se/ZnO/CuO (TSZC) nanoalloys. Data displayed the formation of crystallographic and spherical TSZC with an average size of 47.69 ± 1.95 nm by the action of active molecules in N. retusa extract. EDX analysis reveals the existing Se, Zn, and Cu peaks at specific bending energies with weight percentages of 17.03, 9.44, and 8.36% respectively. TSZC showed promising antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans, and Penicillium glabrum, superior the activity of positive control. The clear zones ranging from 12.3 ± 0.6 to 32.7 ± 0.5 mm were attained due to TSZC treatment with MIC values of 12.5 µg mL^–1 for E. coli, C. albicans, and P. glabrum, and 50 µg mL^–1 for S. aureus. The maximum DPPH scavenging activity (90.1 ± 0.2%) was attained at 1000 µg mL^–1 TSZC compared to ascorbic acid (98.3 ± 0.2%). The IC₅₀ of TSZC nanoalloys against normal cell line (WI38) was 294.9 ± 4.4 µg mL^–1 compared to IC₅₀ against cancer cells (Caco-2 = 83.01 ± 1.1; Mcf7 = 91.7 ± 1.2 µg mL^–1) Which indicates that the TSZC are targeted cancer cells at low concentrations. Finally, the inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase by TSZC with IC₅₀ values of 23.2 ± 3.8 and 32.1 ± 2.6 µg mL^–1 respectively compared to acarbose as a positive control (IC₅₀ = 10.9 ± 1.5 and 15.9 ± 1.8 µg mL^–1 for α-amylase and α-glucosidase respectively) indicates the superior antidiabetic activity in-vitro.

The advancement of optical imaging technology has greatly facilitated the research on fluorescent probes with tumor imaging capabilities. Tetraphenylethlene (TPE) is a well-known molecule with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) properties. Accordingly, its derivatives have been widely used for fluorescence imaging of tumors. In the present study, we designed and synthesized five AIE molecules that contained TPE and had varying alkyl chain lengths. The fluorescent molecules were found to adhere to the two rules of spectroscopy in both favorable and unfavorable solvents. Furthermore, all molecules were able to form aggregates in the DCM/n-hexane mixture, demonstrating the AIE effect. Among them, TPENC12 possessed the most appropriate alkyl chain length. Following the five molecules successful integration into nanoliposomes. The nanoliposomes were screened, to obtain the TPENC12 nanoliposome that exhibited the highest fluorescence intensity. TPENC12 nanoliposome were capable of being taken up by melanoma cells, thus, effectively enabling tumor imaging. Moreover, they demonstrated a significant anti-tumor effect against melanoma at low concentrations, while exhibiting minimal toxicity towards normal cells. The present study, thus, offers valuable insights into the molecular structure design of AIE-based TPE derivatives for fluorescent imaging, thereby highlighting their potential for use in tumor imaging, as well as in the treatment of melanoma.

Diclofenac acid (DA) is widely employed in various clinical settings for pain management. However, prolonged use of DA can induce various adverse effects on the gut, including ulcers and intestinal bleeding. There is also a possible link between the extended use of DA and its increased susceptibility to cardiovascular diseases. Prodrug-based nanoparticles (NPs) have emerged as a promising approach for drug delivery and overcome side effects. In this investigation, a diclofenac acid-based prodrug (DA-P) was synthesized and subsequently used for developing NPs (DA-P-NPs). The developed NPs were further modified with chitosan (DA-P-NPs-CHI) to achieve stability and sustained release of the drug. The DA-P was chemically synthesized and confirmed with EI-mass spectrometry, ¹H-NMR, and ¹³C-NMR spectroscopic techniques. The characterization of DA-P-NPs and DA-P-NPs-CHI involved several techniques, such as atomic force microscopy (AFM and SEM), DLS, FTIR, TGA, and DSC. DA-P demonstrated a reduced critical micelle concentration (CMC) of 0.07 mg/mL and effectively encapsulated more drug within the NPs. DA-P-NPs and DA-P-NPs-CHI exhibited average particle sizes of 130.7 ± 0.6 and 230.2 ± 5.3 nm, and surface charges of -36.2 ± 2.0 and 41.2 ± 0.9 mV, respectively. DA-P-NPs-CHI exhibited a drug-release rate remarkably greater at acidic pH. A paw-edema model was induced via formalin exposure to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of DA-P-NPs-CHI. Assessment of anti-inflammatory activity demonstrated that the use of DA-P-NPs-CHI resulted in a substantial reduction in edema compared to diclofenac-treated rats. These findings demonstrate that the proposed DA-P-NPs possess the promising attributes that make them a possible alternative therapy for pain and inflammation.

This study introduces CTAB-loaded Co₃O₄ nanoparticles (NPs) as a highly efficient solution for removing Brilliant Yellow (BY), Reactive Yellow (RY) and Methyl Orange (MO) dye from contaminated water. Synthesized via a co-precipitation and hydrothermal method, these NPs were characterized using UV-Vis, FTIR, XRD, TEM, and SEM. The Co₃O₄ NPs, with a crystallite size of 11.88 nm and an average particle size of 13 nm, achieved 100% photocatalytic degradation of BY dye (120 mg/L) within 140 min. Additionally, the NPs demonstrated promising photocatalytic activity against RY and MO dyes. The synergy between CTAB and Co₃O₄ NPs enhances dye degradation, positioning them as a cost-effective and efficient solution for wastewater treatment. This work highlights the environmental potential of CTAB/Co₃O₄ NPs in addressing water pollution challenges.

In this study, a novel ZnO/PMMA nanofiber catalyst was fabricated using electrospinning, resulting in a barbed wire-like structure that enhances photocatalytic performance. The research aimed to investigate the material’s effectiveness in degrading organic pollutants under UV light, providing a sustainable solution for water purification. Comprehensive characterization techniques, including XRD, XPS, SEM, EDS, and FTIR, were employed to analyze the crystal structure, micromorphology, and elemental composition of the catalyst. Photocatalytic degradation experiments showed that up to 91% degradation was achieved after 60 min of UV light irradiation at pH 11, with no significant bulk adsorption observed, confirming the dominance of the photocatalytic mechanism. The optimized pH of 11 was found to be ideal for achieving high degradation rates. This novel ZnO/PMMA nanofiber structure demonstrates significant potential for environmental applications, particularly in water purification, offering an efficient and sustainable approach to pollutant removal.