Journal of Cluster Science最新文献

In this study, we present a novel green synthesis method for magnesium oxide/magnesium peroxide nanocomposite using citric acid, enhancing both photocatalytic degradation and antioxidant activity. The physical properties and light absorption of the nanostructure were examined using X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy techniques. A cubic phase was identified, with a nano-size of 25 nm, and a bandgap energy of 2.45 eV was determined. In the photocatalytic degradation tests, the nanostructure achieved an 85% removal rate of Brilliant Cresyl Blue dye after 120 min, with a pseudo-first-order rate constant of 0.014 min⁻¹. Computational simulations revealed a high adsorption energy of -131.552 eV for Brilliant Cresyl Blue on the magnesium oxide/magnesium peroxide nanocomposite, indicating strong binding affinity and supporting the experimental degradation efficiency. Antioxidant assays revealed a half-maximal inhibitory concentration value of 45.81 µg/mL, showcasing substantial free radical scavenging capabilities comparable to established antioxidants. The antibacterial properties of magnesium oxide/magnesium peroxide nanocomposite were assessed against Staphylococcus aureus through the agar well diffusion method. The results demonstrated significant antibacterial efficacy, with inhibition zones ranging from 7.9 ± 0.4 mm to 14.9 ± 1.5 mm, indicating a dose-dependent antibacterial effect. This research advances green synthesis methods for multifunctional nanomaterials, offering promising solutions for environmental remediation and highlighting the potential of magnesium oxide/magnesium peroxide nanocomposite in wastewater treatment, antioxidant applications, and as a potent antibacterial agent.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the urgent need for improved personal protective equipment (PPE). Green-synthesised silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using pandan (Pandanus amaryllifolius) extract offer a sustainable solution to enhance PPE effectiveness against infectious diseases. This eco-friendly approach utilises pandan’s bioactive compounds to reduce silver ions into nanoparticles, providing a sustainable alternative to conventional chemical synthesis methods. The resulting AgNPs exhibit potent antimicrobial and antiviral properties, making them valuable for incorporation into PPE fabrics and coatings. Beyond antimicrobial benefits, pandan-derived AgNPs may impart natural fragrances and skin-soothing properties, enhancing user comfort. The green synthesis process reduces environmental impact and potential toxicity associated with conventional chemical methods. While challenges in scaling production, ensuring regulatory compliance, and assessing long-term health and environmental effects persist, pandan-derived AgNPs-coated PPE represents an innovative approach to infection prevention. This technology has the potential to significantly improve safety measures in healthcare and other high-risk environments while promoting sustainability.

This study delved on development of curcumin loaded Nanostructured Lipid carrier (NLC) incorporated into gastro-retentive oral in-situ gel for specifically designed to the stomach delivery. Curcumin is less soluble in stomach pH, so a high amount of drug would be required to produce the desired effects. The solubility of curcumin was enhanced by incorporating curcumin into NLC through size reduction. Subsequently, it was formulated into GRDDS for targeted stomach-specific delivery. The curcumin loaded NLC was fabricated using a high shear homogenization technique. Through lipid screening, Precirol ATO 5 and Labrafac PG were chosen as a lipids, and tween 80 was selected as a surfactant in this formulation. A formulation (NLC-F4) comprising 2% lipids and 800 mg of surfactant was chosen as the best formulation, average mean particle size was found to be 119.3 ± 0.13 nm, PDI was found to be 0.127 ± 0.02, Zeta potential was found to be -30 ± 0.17 mV and % of encapsulation efficiency were found to be 83.4 ± 1.5%. FT-IR investigation showed no interactions. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) revealed smooth and spherical shaped particles, while Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) assessment suggested that curcumin is complexed in the NLC formulation. The in vitro drug release of curcumin from NLC-F4 showed 8 times enhanced drug release compared with the pure curcumin in pH 1.2 buffer. In vitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory studies revealed significant effects compared to reference standards. Drug release kinetics followed first order release and Weibull kinetics models. The curcumin loaded NLC was fabricated into oral in-situ gel to enhances the gastric retention time and prolong release of drug in the stomach. The system exhibited quick gelation time, optimal viscosity, gastric buoyant density, 24 h floating time, good gel strength, and sustained drug release. These investigations revealed that an oral in-situ gelling system containing curcumin loaded NLC has potential as a carrier for stomach specific delivery and could serve as an alternative dosage form compared to conventional ones for treating gastric ulcers in patients.

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This research outlines the development, comprehensive analysis, and assessment of the photocatalytic and antibacterial properties of ZnO/ZnSnO₃ nanocomposite (NC). The nanocomposite was synthesized using an eco-friendly green synthesis method with lemon peel extract. Techniques such as XRD, SEM, and FTIR verified the formation of dual-phase ZnO/ZnSnO₃ NC with an energy gap of ~ 1.9 eV and an average crystallite size of ~ 25.45 ± 1.24 nm. Photocatalytic degradation evaluated for Evans Blue (EB) dye under solar light indicated high degradation efficiency ~ 99.57% during 90 min, following pseudo-first-order kinetics with a rate constant ~ 0.11 min⁻¹. Furthermore, ZnO/ZnSnO₃ NC exhibited notable antibacterial potential with inhibition zones ranging from (10.0 ± 1.3 to 12.0 ± 0.5) mm for E. coli and (9.0 ± 0.8 to 14.0 ± 0.6) mm for P. aeruginosa, with improved activity against K. pneumoniae and S. aureus. The as-prepared NC exhibited significant antifungal activity against C. albicans with inhibition zones ~ 22.0 ± 0.3 mm. The results obtained categorized ZnO/ZnSnO₃ NC as a potential candidate to be utilized for environmental cleanup and wastewater treatment.

Obtaining new materials with antibacterial activity is an urgent task due to the emergence and proliferation of new antibiotic resistant strains, as well as the increasing requirements for the effectiveness and toxicity of such materials. Electrical explosion of two twisted wires (EETW) to produce of heterophase nanoparticles is attractive for develop novel antibacterial agents. Our work describes simple and environmental friendly way to obtain novel composite CuO/Cu₂O/Ag nanoparticles with different silver mass ratio (15, 50, 90%) by the simultaneous electrical explosion of Ag and Cu twisted wires in oxygen containing atmosphere. The using of EETW for the production of heterophase NPs is due to several advantages such as high purity of nanoparticles, good productivity (about 120 g nanoparticles per hour) and eco-friendliness. The obtained nanoparticles have irregular spherical shape morphology. According to EDX analysis dates, the nanoparticles have Janus-like structure, where one part is enriched with Ag and the other with Cu and O. The mean particle size depended on silver content and was 63 ± 2 nm (90% Ag), 92 ± 2 nm (15% Ag). CuO/Cu₂O/(50)Ag particle size distribution have two peaks, one at 35 ± 1 nm and the other at 79 ± 2 nm. The NP zeta potential of nanoparticles measured neutral pH and 25 °C was positive (more than 20 mV). CuO/Cu₂O/Ag nanoparticles with 50% Ag significantly inhibited the growth of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) with MIC = 62 µg/mL. The antibacterial activity nanoparticles with 90%Ag determined by the disco-diffusion method was slightly lower than that of the nanoparticles with 15 and 50% Ag. The possible antibacterial mechanisms may be attributed to the synergistic effect of the heterostructure of EETW nanoparticles and the formation of galvanic nanopairs. The presence of silver metal and copper oxides in nanoparticles can promote galvanic corrosion, leading to the release of more metal ions into the bacterial suspension. We have shown that the nanoparticles obtained have a positive zeta potential, unlike Ag nanoparticles, which may contribute to a better adhesion of nanoparticles to the surface of bacterial cells. The synthesized NPs have broad potential to be developed in pharmaceutics as an effective antimicrobial nanomaterial.

Efficient detection of toxic heavy metal anions Cr₂O₇²⁻ residue in water media is of great significance due to its severe damage to ecosystem and human health. Herein, a new 2D (two-dimensional) luminescent metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) {[Zn₂(bmida)(phen)]·H₂O}_n (abbr.Zn-MOF) (1,10-phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, H₄bmida = N-(phosphonomethyl)iminodiacetic acid) was constructed and structurally characterized. Notably, this Zn-MOF as an efficient luminescent sensor can detect Cr₂O₇²⁻ both in water media and HEPES biological buffer solution with high selectivity and sensitivity, and good cyclic stability. The corresponding detection limit (LOD) of Zn-MOF towards Cr₂O₇²⁻ is as low as 1.21 and 5.46 µM with large quenching constant (K_sv), respectively. The LOD in H₂O solution is lower than the benchmark of drinking water recommended by United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA, 1.92 µM). Moreover, a possible competitive energy absorption mechanism is suggested by multiple experiments.

Microbial afflictions represent a significant global public health concern. The overuse of antibiotics and the ineffectiveness of conventional antibiotic therapies present substantial challenges in the biomedical field. Consequently, research scientific efforts are focused on developing nanoparticle-based microbial agents to address the escalating issue of antimicrobial resistance. In the present study, we synthesized fucoidan combined with molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) nanosheets using the liquid exfoliation technique, followed by thorough characterization. The UV-visible spectrum analysis revealed prominent absorption peaks at 610 and 672 nm, indicative of the successful formation of F-MoS₂ nanosheets. Subsequent antimicrobial assays demonstrated the exceptional antibacterial efficacy of the developed F-MoS₂ nanosheets against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans). Moreover, in vivo toxicity assessment using the Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) model disclosed that concentrations exceeding 125 µg/mL led to a reduction in the number of fertilized eggs laid by the worms. Furthermore, concentrations of 250 µg/mL resulted in delays in the reproductive cycle and impaired developmental fitness. Thus, the developed F-MoS₂ nanosheets exhibit promising prospects for application within the realm of biomedicine.

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This study aimed to synthesize graphene oxide (GO) nanoparticles and subsequently modify them with trimethylsilyl chloride (TMSCl). The modified GO was employed in the fabrication of a polysulfone-graphene oxide (PSf-GO) ultrafiltration mixed-matrix membrane for oil and water separation. PSf-GO ultrafiltration mixed-matrix membranes were fabricated using different amounts of modified GO. The structure, properties, and characteristics of the synthesized GO and fabricated membranes were studied using various techniques, including contact angle measurements, atomic force microscopy (AFM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The performance of the membranes in the separation of oil and water and their antifouling affinities were evaluated and compared. Contact angle measurements indicated that the addition of GO nanoparticles increased the hydrophilicity of the membranes. The UF-0.50 (0.50%Wt GO@TMSCl) membrane demonstrated a water flux of 113.35 L/m² h and oil rejection of 97.44% during the ultrafiltration process, representing the highest performance among the fabricated membranes. Membrane fouling analysis revealed that this membrane performed better than the others, which could be attributed to the proper and uniform nanoparticle loading. The most favorable UF membrane antifouling performance was observed for the UF-0.5 membrane with a flux recovery percentage of 96.30%. Because of the efficient and appropriate performance of the UF-0.5 membrane, it was revealed that this membrane can be used as an effective UF membrane for the oil-water separation process, as well as in further studies.

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Conventional treatment strategies suffer from a lack of solubility, low bioavailability at the target site, a lack of target specificity, and indiscriminate drug distribution, all of which lead to drug resistance. Therefore, the present study aimed to deliver capsaicin into breast cancer cells through folic acid-conjugated capsaicin-loaded carboxylic acid-functionalised multiwalled carbon nanotubes (FA-CAP-COOHMWCNTs). FA-CAP-COOHMWCNTs was formulated and characterized by FTIR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy), SEM (Scanning electron microscopy), HR-TEM (High-resolution transmission electron microscopy), and XRD (X-ray diffraction) analysis. In silico studies demonstrated that the active molecule, capsaicin can strongly bind onto C-SRC kinase receptor to suppress cancer progression. The in vitro cellular viability of MCF-7 breast cancer cells after 24h treatment with 100 µg × mL^− 1 of FA-CAP-COOHMWCNTs was found to be 29.27 ± 2.59% and IC₅₀ value was observed to be 22.71 µg × mL^− 1. Subsequently, in vivo anticancer activity of FA-CAP-COOHMWCNTs was performed against 7,12-dimethylbenz(a) anthracene (DMBA)-induced breast cancer in female Wistar rats. After 21 days of treatment with FA-CAP-COOHMWCNTs, breast cancer-induced rats showed a significant reduction in mammary tumor size, and elevated levels of antioxidant enzymes in serum/breast tissue. The most powerful antioxidant effects were seen in the medium dose (5 mg × kg^− 1) of FA-CAP-COOHMWCNTs, which also caused tumors to shrink significantly, almost as much as the standard drug (doxorubicin). Histopathological studies also showed near-normal architecture of breast tissue. Altogether, it can be interpreted that FA-CAP-COOHMWCNTs have antiproliferative efficacy against breast tumor progression in breast cancer-induced rats.