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With the demand for better chronic wound care, the clinical problem of managing wound infections has already reached a critical level. Therefore, the development of novel antibiotic-free wound dressings is essential for wound care. The proteolytic enzyme bromelain, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), and bromelain loaded on silver nanoparticles (Br-AgNPs) were assessed for their impact on wound healing in the albino mice. The formulated nanoparticles were characterized using different techniques, i.e., ultraviolet (UV), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The antibacterial and fungal activities of the formulated nanoparticles were also investigated. After 5 days of treatment, the wound healing progression and wound size reduction rate were monitored. In addition, serum and skin tissue samples were collected to assess the changes in inflammation levels and observe the histological changes. The results indicated a spherical shape and regular distribution of the synthesized gold nanoparticles, with an average particle size of 41.33–61.30 nm, where the size was about 39.84 and 82.91 nm after loading bromelain. The Br-AgNPs were the most active antimicrobial agents against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Candida albicans, as compared to the other samples and positive controls. The fibronectin and collagen III levels were significantly increased in the animal groups treated with bromelain and Br-AgNPs (7132.52 ± 324.67 and 7006.00 ± 565.19 pg/ml, respectively), compared to the negative control group. Moreover, wound closure was significantly enhanced in the Br-AgNP-treated animals compared to the other treated and control groups. The histopathological analysis supported the wound healing potential of the Br-AgNPs through their ability to induce dense fibrous connective tissue in the wound area, which was rich in irregular bundles of collagen fibers and interspersed with numerous fibroblasts. The present findings could provide valuable insight into how Br-AgNPs can accelerate wound healing, reduce recovery time, and provide an antimicrobial barrier for wounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, raw materials, namely zinc acetate dihydrate, iron nitrate nonahydrate, and solvent 2-methoxyethanol, were utilized to synthesize zinc ferrite nanoparticles by sol–gel method. The synthesized material was annealed at different temperatures of 500 °C, 600 °C, and 700 °C to study its effect on morphological, optical, and magnetic properties. Formation of single phase spinel cubic structure with intense peak orientation along (311) direction was confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction pattern. FESEM and EDX spectra of the annealed samples confirmed the surface morphology and elemental composition. UV–visible spectral analysis was used to examine the optical properties of the samples. VSM at room temperature revealed the ferromagnetic behavior of zinc ferrite nanoparticles. All the prepared samples at different annealing temperatures showed good antibacterial properties against different bacterial strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silver Oxide nanoparticles (AgONPs) have been revealed to have many applications, including antibacterial behavior. However, the conventional methods for synthesizing AgO NPs often use toxic chemicals that may be detrimental to human health and environmental factors. The crystalline structure and size of obtained AgO NPs were confirmed by Powder X-ray diffraction analysis with 35–70 nm. Functional groups have been identified in Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The result of Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy confirmed the presence of the elements in the synthesized AgO NPs. The energy band gap is determined using UV–visible spectroscopy. Morphological examination of prepared AgO NPs, comprising spherical and rod-like structures, was performed using a Transmission, and scanning electron microscope. The antibacterial activity was evaluated using Gram-negative (Klebsiella pneumonia, Escherichia coli) and Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus) bacteria from Agar Well Diffusion Method. The results show that the green synthesis of AgO NPs have better antibacterial activity. The inhibition zone diameter were observedfor all microorganisms. The green synthesis of AgO NPs from herbal plant leaf extracts is a promising method for developing safe and effective antibacterial agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To synthesize silver nanoparticles suspended in deionized water, Elettaria cardamomum (Car) seed extract and Car@Ag nanoparticles were prepared in three steps. The first used a hot aqueous extract of Elettaria cardamomum seed, and then, the second used pulsed laser ablation technique (PLAL) by Nd:YAG laser (λ = 1064 nm wavelength) at laser energy of 400 mJ, and the number of pulses was 500 pulses and third step for the synthesis of creating a non-conjugated Elettaria cardamomum extract. Ultraviolet visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) were used to investigate the optical, structural, and morphological characterizations of synthesized Car@AgNPs. The nanoparticles were spherical in shape, and a size distribution exhibited a mean size of 21 nm, according to the TEM findings. AgNPs and Car@AgNPs have free radical scavenging activity in the DPPH assay. Additionally, Car@AgNPs were examined in vitro for zones of inhibition against pathogenic bacteria like Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The inhibition rate of Escherichia coli was higher than that observed in Staphylococcus aureus. Finally, Car@AgNPs demonstrated a potential cytotoxicity agent breast cancer (MCF-7) cell line that was evaluated by MTT assay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whey proteins are abundant in peptides that possess various biological activities. In order to enhance the biological properties of protein hydrolysates, it is essential to optimize the conditions of the hydrolysis process. In this study, optimal conditions for hydrolysis of whey protein concentrate (WPC) using filtered trypsin-like protease (FTLP) was determined in vitro. Further, the ability of optimized whey protein hydrolysates to inhibit dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DiPP4) in vitro was examined. An optimum degree of hydrolysis (DH 42.9%) was obtained with an E:S ratio of 5:100 (w/w), 8.6 h, and a temperature of 40 °C. The factual DH under ideal conditions was 42.04%, indicating the efficiency of the selected model (p ≤ 0.05). Hydrolysates of WPC generated by FTLP, including both the unfractionated section and the fractions obtained via ultrafiltration using 10- and 5-kDa cut-off membranes, exhibited anti-diabetic characteristics. However, the fractions exhibited greater inhibitory effects against the DiPP4 enzyme, with IC50 values of 1.98, 1.19, and 0.9 mg/mL for the unfractionated, 10-kDa and 5-kDa fractions, respectively. Moreover, the results indicated that probiotic L. plantarum subsp. plantarum PTCC 1896 or its components may provide opportunities for future management of type-II diabetes by inhibiting DiPP4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel class of nanomaterials as subunit nano vaccines has shown great potential for delivering antigens to the target in a safe and effective manner. Herein, functionalized superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticle (SPION) surfaces with conjugated a malaria protein (vaccine) and carboxyl groups have a comparatively high capacity to bind protein. SPIONs were synthesized using the chemical coprecipitation process, then coated with either 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane or with PEG plus APTS and characterized using DSL-zeta potential, VSM, TG and SEM. Furthermore, SDS-PAGE was used to measure the amount of protein specifically attached to particles. The idea behind this project is that by gradually and continuously releasing the antigen, it could trigger and sustain a strong immune response over an extended period. The results showed that functionalized SPIONs conjugated to the PyMSP119 antigen might be exploited for the antigen's controlled release and could be applied to various types of antigens in the future. The current study results demonstrated the effectiveness of SPIONS-based antigen vaccination systems for eliciting antibody responses that may be suitable for a variety of illnesses not just malaria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waste-water pollution by radioactive elements such as uranium has emerged as a major issue that might seriously harm human health. Graphene oxide, graphene oxide nanoribbons, and sodium alginate nanocomposite aerogels (GO/GONRs/SA) were combined to create a novel nanocomposite using a modified Hummer's process and freeze-drying as an efficient adsorbent. Batch studies were conducted to determine the adsorption of uranium (VI) by aerogel. Aerogels composed of (GO/GONRs/SA) were used as an effective adsorbent for the removal of U (VI) from aqueous solution. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to describe the structure, morphologies, and characteristics of (GO/GONRs/SA) aerogels. The initial concentration of uranium (VI) and other environmental factors on U (VI) adsorption were investigated, period of contact, pH, and temperature. A pseudo-second-order kinetic model can be employed to characterize the kinetics of U (VI) adsorption onto aerogels. The Langmuir model could be applied to understand the adsorption isotherm, and the maximum adsorption capacity was 929.16 mg/g. The adsorption reaction is endothermic and occurs spontaneously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, gold nanoparticles (NPs) have been synthesized using second harmonic generation ND-YAG laser ablation in ethanol employing 532 nm and 1.064 nm wavelengths. Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, and UV–Vis absorption were employed to examine the structural, chemical, and optical properties of Au NPs. XRD results showed that all synthesized Au nanoparticles are crystalline in nature. The optical band gap upon ablation using the higher wavelength (1064 nm) was about 4.02 eV. The value of the optical band gap increases to reach a value of 4.22 eV at the shorter wavelength (532 nm). The FESEM results reveal the formation of smaller nanorod size at second harmonic generation (SHG) wavelength was found to be about 30 nm at wavelength 532 nm and 44 nm at 1064 nm. After that, finite element analysis is used to simulate the photonic crystal fiber (PCF) as biosensors, depending on the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) phenomenon using the COMSOL multiphasic program. The hollow core photonic crystal fiber (HC-PCF) HC-800 was thus overfilled with water. The confinement loss (CL) of the fundamental mode for the proposed PCF with and without the gold nanoparticles was calculated; we observe without gold NPs the CL at the water and colon tissue about 1.08E + 03 and 5.46E + 02 dB/m, while at use the deposited PCF with gold NPs, the results ensured the decrease more than in the confinement loss at the water and colon tissue about 1.01E + 03 and 3.16E + 02 dB/m with a clear shift toward higher wavelengths, also when calculating the sensitivity, to increase HC-PCF biosensor performance by using wavelength interrogation and amplitude measurements; it found the bio-liquid (colon tissue) has the best electric field using the gold nanowire (NW) layer in the biosensor equal to 68.8 V/m by comparison when without using the gold NW layer which leads to high sensitivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chitosan-based hydrogel has high potential in tissue engineering; however, its performance is relatively poor in practice. Here, an easy method is introduced to produce high strength composite chitosan hydrogel. Chitosan (CS) and Basil seed gum (BSG) are converted into a 3-dimensional hydrogel with the assistance of Gallic acid (GA) as a cross-linking agent. The incorporation of GA into CS-BSG hydrogel forms cross-linking bonds (hydrogen bonds) between GA and polymer chains. The experimental results show that the GA cross-linked hydrogel has a dense microstructure, good mechanical properties, high porosity, thermal stability, and a high swelling ratio. With the high antioxidant activity and good biocompatibility, these properties make the GA-crosslinked hydrogel as a promising material for tissue engineering. Furthermore, adding quercetin loaded-Zein microsphere in the optimal hydrogel (the hydrogel containing the highest concentration of GA) proved to have a synergistic effect on the mentioned characteristics of the hydrogel. Cell culture tests confirmed that this scaffold is nontoxic and biocompatible for cell proliferation. The prepared hydrogels hold great potential as a scaffold for tissue engineering applications based on the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combining viruses and nanoparticles may be a way to successfully treat cancer and minimize adverse effects. The current work aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a specific combination of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) and Newcastle disease virus (NDV) to enhance the antitumor effect of breast cancer in both in vitro and in vivo models. Two human breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and AMJ-13) and a normal epithelial cell line (HBL-100) were used and treated with NDV and/or GNPs. The MTT assay was used to study the anticancer potentials of NDV and GNP. The colony formation assay and apoptosis markers were used to confirm the killing mechanisms of NDV and GNP against breast cancer cell lines. p53 and caspase-9 expression tested by the qRT-PCR technique. Our results showed that combination therapy had a significant killing effect against breast cancer cells. The findings demonstrated that NDV and GNPs induced apoptosis in cancer cells by activating caspase-9, the p53 protein, and other proteins related to apoptosis, which holds promise as a combination therapy for breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effect of novel zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) biosynthesized employing Papaver somniferum leaf on oxidative stress, necrosis, and apoptosis in the leukemia cancer THP-1 cell. The obtained ZnO was examined using SEM, AFM, and TEM microscopy, which revealed an irregular spherical morphology with a size ranging from 20 to 30 nm, and the UV–vis absorbance revealed a strong absorption peak in the range of 360–370, nm confirming the production of ZnO NPs. THP-1 cells were subjected to an MTT, an EdU proliferation, a lactate dehydrogenase release tests, a reactive oxygen species (ROS) induction experiment, a DAPI staining detection assay, and a flow cytometric analysis for Annexin V to measure the effects of ZnO NPs on cancer cell growth inhibition, apoptosis, and necrosis. Our results show that ZnO NPs inhibit THP-1 line in a concentration-dependent pattern. It was observed that ZnO NPs triggered necrosis (cell death) and apoptosis in the cell line. ZnO NPs massively improved the formation of intracellular ROS, which is crucial in deactivating the development of leukemic cells. In conclusion, ZnO nanoparticles synthesized using Papaver somniferum extract have the ability to inhibit proliferation leukemic cancer cells, making them potential anticancer agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by insulin resistance (IR) and hyperglycemia. The development of inflammatory disorders in T2DM triggers the activation of different growth factors as a compensatory mechanism to reduce IR and adipose tissue dysfunction in T2DM. Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) which is involved in the regulation of glucose homeostasis is attractive to be a novel therapeutic target in the management of T2DM. FGF21 has poor pharmacokinetic profile as it rapidly degraded; therefore, FGF21 analogs which are more stable can be used in T2DM patients. However, FGF21 analogs are tested pre-clinically but not approved in clinical settings. Therefore, searching for anti-diabetic agents who enhance FGF21 expression is mandatory. It has been shown that metformin which used as a first-line in the management of T2DM can positively affect the expression of FGF21, though the underlying mechanisms for metformin-induced FGF21 expression are not fully elucidated. Therefore, this review from published studies aimed to find how metformin improves insulin sensitivity through FGF21-dependent pathway in T2DM. In conclusion, metformin improves FGF21 signaling in T2DM, and this could be a novel mechanism for metformin in the amelioration of glucose homeostasis and metabolic disorders in T2DM patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is regarded as a threat because it spreads quickly across the world without requiring a passport or establishing an identity. This tiny virus has wreaked havoc on people's lives, killed people, and created psychological problems all over the world. The viral spike protein (S) significantly contributes to host cell entry, and mutations associated with it, particularly in the receptor-binding protein (RBD), either facilitate the escape of virus from neutralizing antibodies or enhance its transmission by increasing the affinity for cell entry receptor, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). The initial variants identified in Brazil, South Africa, and the UK have spread to various countries. On the other hand, new variants are being detected in India and the USA. The viral genome and proteome were applied for molecular detection techniques, and nanotechnology particles and materials were utilized in protection and prevention strategies. Consequently, the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has resulted in extraordinary scientific community efforts to develop detection methods, diagnosis tools, and effective antiviral drugs and vaccines, where prevailing academic, governmental, and industrial institutions and organizations continue to engage themselves in large-scale screening of existing drugs, both in vitro and in vivo. In addition, COVID-19 pointed on the possible solutions for the environmental pollution globe problem. Therefore, this review aims to address SARS-CoV-2, its transmission, where it can be found, why it is severe in some people, how it can be stopped, its diagnosis and detection techniques, and its relationship with the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under conventional and silica-supported Muffle furnace methods, water-soluble substituted trimeric triaryl pyridinium cations with various inorganic counter anions are synthesized. The solvent-free synthesis method is superior to the conventional method in terms of non-toxicity, quicker reaction times, ease of workup, and higher yields. Trimeric substituted pyridinium salts acted as excellent catalytic responses for the preparation of Gem-bisamide derivatives compared with available literature. To evaluate the molecular docking, benzyl/4-nitrobenzyl substituted triaryl pyridinium salt compounds with VEGFR-2 kinase were used with H-bonds, π–π stacking, salt bridges, and hydrophobic contacts. The results showed that the VEGFR-2 kinase protein had the most potent inhibitory activity. Intriguingly, the compound [NBTAPy]PF6- had a strongly binds to VEGFR-2 kinase and controlled its activity in cancer treatment and prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated for the first time a simple bio-synthesis approach for the synthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) using Annona muricata L (A. muricata) plant extract to test their anti-cancer effects. The presence of CuONPs was confirmed by UV–visible spectroscopy, Scanning electron microscope (SEM), and Transmission electron microscope (TEM). The antiproliferative properties of the synthesized nanoparticles were evaluated against (AMJ-13), (MCF-7) breast cancer cell lines, and the human breast epithelial cell line (HBL-100) as healthy cells. This study indicates that CuONPs reduced cell proliferation for AMJ-13 and MCF-7. HBL-100 cells were not significantly inhibited for several concentration levels or test periods. The outcomes suggest that the prepared copper oxide nanoparticles acted against the growth of specific cell lines observed in breast cancer. It was observed that cancer cells had minor colony creation after 24 h sustained CuONPs exposure using (IC50) concentration for AMJ-13 was (17.04 µg mL−1). While for MCF-7 cells was (18.92 µg mL−1). It indicates the uptake of CuONPs by cancer cells, triggering apoptosis. Moreover, treatment with CuONPs enhanced Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) production, probably caused by cell membrane damage, creating leaks comprising cellular substances like lactate dehydrogenase. Hence, research results suggested that the synthesized CuONPs precipitated anti-proliferative effects by triggering cell death through apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This contribution presents the biosynthesis, physiochemical properties, toxicity and photocatalytic activity of biogenic CeO2 NPs using, for the first time, marine oyster extract as an effective and rich source of bioreducing and capping/stabilizing agents in a one-pot recipe. CeO2 NPs formation was initially confirmed through the color change from light green to pale yellow and subsequently, their corresponding absorption peak was spectroscopically determined at 310 nm with an optical band-gap of 4.67 eV using the DR-UV technique. Further, XRD and Raman analyses indicated that nanoceria possessed face-centered cubic arrangements without any impurities, having an average crystallite size of 10 nm. TEM and SEM results revealed that biogenic CeO2 NPs was approximately spherical in shape with a median particle size of 15 ± 1 nm. The presence of various bioorganic substances on the surface of nanoparticles was deduced by FTIR and TGA results. It is found that marine-based nanoceria shows no cytotoxic effect on the normal cell, thus indicating their enhanced biocompatibility and biosafety to living organisms. Environmentally, due to energy band gap, visible light-activated CeO2 nanocatalyst revealed superior photocatalytic performance on degradation of methylene blue pollutant with removal rate of 99%. Owing to the simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and environmentally friendly nature, this novel marine biosynthetic route paves the way for prospective applications of nanoparticles in various areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a correction notice for an article titled "Extremely efficient aerogels of graphene oxide/graphene oxide nanoribbons/sodium alginate for uranium removal from wastewater solution" published in Scientific Reports. The correction addresses an error in a reference citation and a correction to the author contributions section. The correct reference is provided, and the author contributions section is updated. The original article has been corrected. [Extracted from the article]

In this contribution, we report the screening of different parameters contributing to the electrodeposition of Cu2O nanostructures as an electrode material to provide an overall understanding of the effect of the entire method conditions. We varied different parameters (pH, potential, and deposition time) during the electrodeposition of cuprous oxide (Cu2O) thin films on ITO glass substrate and integrated different methods: X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-vis absorption (UV-Vis), scanning electron microscope (SEM), cyclic voltammetry (CV), and chronoamperometry (CA) to deeply examine the as-synthesized materials and interrogate their efficiency towards the conversion of light to current (photo-current). From the chronoamperometry experiments, all the curves of current transients exhibit a typical response of a progressive 3D nucleation growth. Highly crystalline Cu2O structures of nano-cubes can be seen in the XRD and SEM results at high pH (12.5) and at potentials -0.5 and -0.6 V Vs. SCE during 60 min of deposition time. UV-Vis results showed high optical absorption in the region of 300-500 nm. The photocurrent measurements of Cu2O coupled with Cu-doped ZnO suggested that the synthesized Cu2O proved to be the best candidate as a solar cell. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]