Journal of Nanoparticle Research最新文献

Antibiotic contamination in aquatic environments poses significant threats, including the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and the disruption of aquatic ecosystems. This study explores the photodegradation of tetracycline, a widely utilized antibiotic, utilizing NH₂-MIL-101(Cr)@ZIF-67 as a photocatalyst. Various characterization tests were conducted to validate the photocatalyst including FT-IR, XRD, BET, TGA, FE-SEM, and TEM images which prove the accurate synthesis of the core–shell. Experiments were conducted under controlled conditions: pH 5, a photocatalyst dosage of 30 mg, an initial concentration of 40 ppm, and a reaction duration of 30 min. The core–shell NH₂-MIL-101(Cr)@ZIF-67 photocatalyst demonstrates high efficiency about 95.2% of degrading tetracycline through a hole-mediated mechanism. Upon light irradiation, the material generates electron–hole pairs, with holes oxidizing adsorbed tetracycline molecules. The introduction of NH₂ functional groups enhances photocatalytic efficiency by facilitating electron transfer, ROS generation, and adsorption capacity. This photocatalytic process involves the adsorption of tetracycline, the generation of holes, the oxidation of tetracycline molecules, and their ultimate mineralization into less harmful byproducts. The antenna effect, where amine groups within MOFs absorb light and transfer electrons to catalytic sites, further contributes to the enhanced photocatalytic activity. Furthermore, regeneration tests explained that NH₂-MIL-101(Cr)@ZIF-67 shows significant stability which was further proved by PXRD pattern.

One of the primary challenges associated with current chemotherapy lies in its inherent toxicity to healthy cells, leading to severe side effects. Recognizing the need for a more targeted approach, we have focused on tumor-specific drug delivery. Cancer cells, being highly metabolic, exhibit a significant increase in glucose consumption approximately 200 times more than normal cells for their rapid growth. To address this, we have engineered GLcNAc-modified solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNPs) designed to be actively internalized by cancer cells, thereby facilitating precise drug delivery to tumors. The developed GLcNAc-TMX-SLNPs are characterized by a size range of 200 to 250 nm and a surface charge of -25 to -35 mV. Their structural properties were thoroughly examined using techniques such as DSC, FTIR, and TEM. In the evaluation of drug release within the tumor microenvironment pH, a biphasic release pattern was observed, with 73.54 ± 0.73% release of TMX within 48 h. Importantly, the hemolysis caused by these developed SLNPs was found to be less than 5%, indicating their suitability for intravenous administration. Cellular uptake studies conducted on MDA-MB-231 cells underscored the targeted characteristics of the developed formulations. With a stable lipid composition, these SLNPs present a promising and stable platform for anticancer treatment. By minimizing off-target effects and enhancing drug delivery precision, our approach holds potential to improve the therapeutic efficacy of chemotherapy while mitigating its impact on healthy cells.

Graphical Abstract

In order to solve the problem of reduced fluorescence intensity caused by aggregation of carbon dots (CDs) in solution, this study successfully optimized the synthesis conditions for amination-modified carbon dots (N-CDs) by adjusting factors such as nitrogen source, reaction temperature, and time, making the fluorescence stable and easy combination with natural polymers. Additionally, the semi-dissolution acidification sol–gel transition (SD-A-SGT) method was used to prepare the carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) and chitosan (CS) composite hydrogels, achieving a high content of CDs with a straightforward process. Fluorescence properties, chemical composition, and morphological characteristics of CD fluorescent hydrogels were analyzed. The results showed that the fluorescent hydrogels revealed distinct absorption bands in the FT-IR spectra (1601 cm⁻¹, 1395 cm⁻¹, and 1632 cm⁻¹), indicating the formation of intermolecular complexes. CS and CMC in N-CDs/CMC/CS composite hydrogels formed intermolecular complexes through strong electrostatic and hydrogen-bonding interactions between NH₃⁺ and COO⁻ groups, exhibiting an interconnected porous network structure that provided space for the uniform dispersion of N-CDs. Compared to the aqueous N-CDs solution, the fluorescence curve of the N-CDs/CMC composite was slightly enhanced (1.82%) and broadened, and N-CDs achieved ideal immobilization at high content in the gel system without quenching. This work develops an environmentally friendly composite hydrogel with strong fluorescence, holding promising applications in metal detection.

Dimethylcurcumin (DMC) is a synthetic curcuminoid which can enhance androgen receptor (AR) degradation to suppress AR-associated cancers. However, the poor water solubility and low bioavailability of DMC limit its biomedical applications. In our study, a water-soluble methoxypolyethylene glycol-dimethylcurcumin conjugate (cDMC-mPEG) was synthesized and further used for preparation of DMC loaded nanoparticles for effective DMC delivery. cDMC-mPEG was synthesized and characterized by proton nuclear magnetic resonance, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. cDMC-mPEG self-assemble into nanoparticles in aqueous solution and can be used to encapsulate free DMC to form DMC-loaded cDMC-mPEG nanoparticles with small sizes and spherical morphology. The in vitro drug release study shows that DMC@cDMC-mPEG (15.3%) nanoparticles exhibit pH-triggered DMC release behaviors. The cellular uptake study shows that cDMC-mPEG and DMC@cDMC-mPEG (15.3%) nanoparticles exhibit enhanced cellular uptake as compared to free DMC, and DMC@cDMC-mPEG (15.3%) nanoparticles exhibit the highest cellular uptake amount. As a result, DMC@cDMC-mPEG (15.3%) nanoparticles exhibit enhanced cytotoxicity against 22Rv1 cells as compared to cDMC-mPEG and free DMC in in vitro antitumor effect study. The DMC@cDMC-mPEG (15.3%) nanoparticles developed in this work provide an effective nano-formulation for anti-prostate cancer DMC delivery.

Sprouts are well known for having a remarkable nutritional profile. Enhancing plant chemical composition and quality of sprouts is essential since these metabolites offer numerous health advantages. To this end, this study aimed to investigate the effects of priming with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on the growth and nitrogen (N) metabolism of four horticultural plants, namely, Trigonella foenum-graecum, Linium grandiflorum, Lepidium sativum, and Anethum gravelones. The properties of our synthesized MWCNTs included three characteristic peaks 3434, 1539, and 1068 cm⁻¹ attributable to the stretching vibration of O–H, bending vibration, and C − O, respectively. MWCNT priming increased the sprouting process by inducing biomass and protein accumulation. MWCNT priming improved N metabolism, including amino acid and polyamine metabolism. At the amino acid level, there was an increase in amino acid levels (e.g., glycine, lysine, asparagine, and glutamic acid) as well as their metabolic enzyme activities, including glutamine synthetase (GS), threonine synthetase (TS), and glutamate synthetase (GOGAT). Increased polyamine levels like spermine, putrescine, and spermidine were also associated with boosting their related biosynthetic enzyme activities, i.e., arginine decarboxylase (ADC), ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), spermidine synthase, and spermine synthase (SpmS). This improvement of nitrogen metabolic pathways highlights the potential of MWCNT to boost the chemical composition of horticultural plants.

This study reveals the fabrication of a gas sensor with a PEDOT:PSS/graphene ink composite as an active layer on glossy paper. The glossy paper was chosen as the substrate material due to its low cost and easy availability. PEDOT:PSS/graphene ink was synthesized by simple mixing of PEDOT:PSS and graphene solution in the presence of distilled water, ethanol, glycerol, and diethylene glycol and was then sonicated and stirred at room temperature and characterized by FTIR, UV, XRD, AFM, and SEM. The sensitivity of the gas sensors towards acetonitrile, propanol, butanol, benzene, methanol, and ammonia analytes was investigated by measuring the change in resistance using a conventional multimeter at room temperature. The results exhibited that the composite’s response to ammonia change is stable and can measure concentration were the results also indicate that the sensors show promising responses with ± 1% reading error with a high response percentage.

Microwave-assisted one-pot, one-step, calcination-free synthesis of nanosized Mn₃O₄ is reported using only benzylamine and manganese acetate. Benzylamine in this protocol plays a vital role for efficient microwave synthesis. This microwave method enables the synthesis of nanosized Mn₃O₄ in just few hours only in a single step eliminating the need of calcinations of any intermediate. The synthesized nanosized Mn₃O₄ was analyzed by XRD, HRTEM, EDAX, and Raman spectroscopy. The catalytic and electrochemical properties of as-synthesized Mn₃O₄ were investigated. In galvanostatic charge–discharge experiments, after 800 cycles, more than 89% capacitance was retained for electrodes made by as synthesized Mn₃O₄ nanomaterials indicating its very good stability. In the catalytic conversion of cinnamyl alcohol to cinnamaldehyde via oxidation, using as prepared nanosized Mn₃O₄ as a catalyst, it displays effective catalytic properties. A probable mechanical study of its formation was also envisaged. This synthesis protocol is additive-free, occurs in a short time, is facile, is energy efficient, and eliminates the use of many chemicals. These silent features make these reported protocols economically viable and environmentally benign which adhere to the principles of Green Chemistry.

This study aimed to evaluate the anti-cancerous effect of molybdenum disulfide nanoflowers (MoS₂-NFs) and berberine (BRB) in N-nitroso-N-methyl urea (NMU)-induced breast cancer in female rats. MoS₂-NFs were synthesized using a one-step hydrothermal method, and their structural and morphological properties were characterized using PXRD, FESEM, XPS, BET, and Raman analysis. Computational studies further confirmed our experimental findings. Breast tumors were induced in rats by four doses of NMU (50 mg/kg) at an interval of 3 weeks. Oxidative stress markers, DNA fragmentation, mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes, hormonal profiles, and inflammatory mediators were evaluated for chemo-preventive characteristics of MoS₂-NF. Results of our study showed that MoS₂-NFs (3 and 10 mg/kg) and BRB (10 mg/kg) significantly decreased the weight of the mammary gland and enhanced the antioxidant effect. Similarly, reduction in malondialdehyde (MDA) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels showed the anti-cancerous potential of MoS₂ NFs at 3 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg, and BRB 10 mg/kg, which was further confirmed by histopathological studies and DNA fragmentation proportion. Estrogen and progesterone levels significantly declined in combination treatment groups, whereas individual drug treatment groups also showed satisfactory results. Similarly, reduction in levels of IL-6, TNF-alpha, and kappa b in all treatment groups indicated test agent efficacy against inflammation and tumor infection. Furthermore, all mitochondrial respiratory complexes, particularly complex I and II + III, activated significantly after individual test substances treatment as compared to combinatory effect, while citrate synthase showed marked efficacy in combination treatment. In conclusion, MoS₂ NFs and BRB showed attribution of anti-tumor potential towards mammary gland carcinoma. However, further studies are needed to assess its safety and efficacy.

The BiFe_1-xNd_xO₃ (x = 0.00, 0.03, 0.06, 0.09, 0.12) (BFNO) nanoparticles have been synthesized successfully through the chemical coprecipitation technique. The effect of neodymium (Nd) doping on structural, dielectric, magnetic, and magnetodielectric properties of BiFeO₃ (BFO) multiferroic nanoparticles has been reported here. The Rietveld refinement of X-ray diffraction (XRD) data confirms the formation of rhombohedral crystal structure (R3c space group) of the prepared nanomaterials. The average crystallite size obtained from XRD is in the range of 54 to 21 nm for pure and doped materials. The transmission electron microscope (TEM), high-resolution TEM (HRTEM), and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) of the samples indicate the particle size, high crystallinity, and incorporation of Nd³⁺ ions respectively. The dielectric parameters and real-imaginary part of impedance behavior point out the transport mechanism of the doped samples. The magnetic and magnetodielectric properties of the doped nanomaterials have been enhanced than the pure BFO. The magnetic moment of BFNO samples increases due to the suppression of oxygen vacancies in accordance with the reduced super-exchange interaction of Fe²⁺-O-Fe³⁺. The leakage current and the multiferroic properties have been checked for all the samples at room temperature.

“Defect engineering” has been considered as an effective strategy to improve photocatalytic activity of catalysts. ZnO_1−x photocatalysts containing oxygen defects were prepared by the “oxygen-atom capture” method in different lithium-naphthalene solution. The effect of concentration of lithium-naphthalene solution on the oxygen vacancies and photocatalytic performance of ZnO was researched comprehensively. The results indicate that ZnO photocatalysts treated in lithium-naphthalene solution show disordered structure on the material due to the presence of oxygen vacancies. Compared with W-ZnO (white ZnO), ZnO_1−x exhibits higher visible light absorption and enhanced photocatalytic properties. Moreover, more oxygen vacancies are introduced into ZnO-0.8, which reduce its bandgap to 3.04 eV and improve the separation efficiency and transfer speed of photo-generated carriers. Therefore, the efficiency of NO removal by ZnO-0.8 is enhanced to 54.3% under ultraviolet light irradiation, and its degradation efficiency of NO is ~ 12 times greater than that of W-ZnO. Oxygen vacancies acted as capturer of electrons, inhibiting the recombination of photogenerated electrons and holes. Thus, increasing the appropriate concentration of oxygen vacancies on the surface of the material can enhance its photocatalytic activity.