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Elemental sulfur, commonly known for its wide range of biological activities, has a long history of use in protecting all garden and vegetable crops from a range of pests and diseases, including powdery mildew, ascochyta blight, clubroot, plant mites, oidium, anthracnose, and scab. In the present study, a quick and environmentally friendly approach has been developed for the synthesis of sulfur nanoparticles with antibacterial activity. Fine sulfur particles (FSPs) were prepared by modifying the surface of elemental sulfur using various polyelectrolyte–surfactant mixtures (PSMs) including sodium carboxymethyl cellulose–sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (NaCMC-SDBS) and polyhexamethylene guanidine hydrochloride–cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (PHMG-CTAB). The FSPs were characterized by UV–visible spectrophotometry, X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric/differential scanning calorimetry analysis (TG/DSC), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), with the FSPs showing an almost spherical shape with an average size in the range of 150–200 nm. The antibacterial activity of the FSPs was tested against Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecium and Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria and one fungus (Aspergillus brasiliensis ATCC 95 16404). Based on this, it could be seen that FSPs exhibited significant antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria, i.e., S. aureus and E. faecium. The in vitro cytotoxicity of the FSPs-1 and FSPs-2 studied in normal (MeT-5A) and tumorous (MCF-7) human cell lines was assessed in the concentration range from 500 μg/mL to 0.12 mg/mL, from which it was determined as being non-cytotoxic. The received products can be considered for potential application in agriculture and medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current work is devoted to the development of probiotic microencapsulation systems with the co-encapsulation of a plant extract, which can increase the survival of beneficial bacteria and are suitable for potential applications in the enrichment of fermented beverages based on acid whey. The encapsulation process exhibited a high level of effectiveness, achieving 83.0% for Bifidobacterium (BB), 89.2% for Stevia leaf extract (SE), and 91.3% for their combination (BB + SE). The FTIR analysis verified substantial interactions between the encapsulated agents and the polymer matrix, which enhanced the stability of the microcapsules. The BB + SE microcapsules exhibited reduced swelling and moisture content, indicating a denser structure compared to separately encapsulated BB and SE. Comparison of release kinetics of BB, SE and BB + SE loaded microcapsules showed that the combination of active agents has a quicker initial release, reaching 60% release within the first 2 h, and this value increased to 70% after 4 h. The release kinetics studies demonstrated a controlled release of active substances over 24 h. A morphology analysis shows that the surfaces of the dry microcapsules containing BB, SE, and their combination BB + SE have a porous structure. For encapsulated agents, the size of the capsules produced with BB and SE are smaller than those produced with two components (BB + SE), the sizes of which are between 760 µm and 1.1 mm. Modeling of the behavior of microcapsules in a simulated gastrointestinal tract provides information on swelling and active agents release rates as a function of pH in real biological environments. Thus, the new formulations of microcapsules with microorganisms and plant extracts have great potential for the development of fermented whey-based beverages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this work was to investigate a possibility of preparing composite zein/natural resin (shellac and rosin) nanoparticles by antisolvent co–precipitation from their aqueous ethanol solutions. Influence of zein/resin mass ratio (1/0, 0.8/0.2, 0.5/0.5, 0.4/0.6 and 0/1) and pH (2–12) on particle size, d, and zeta potential, , of the prepared particles was studied. The functional properties of zein/rosin composite nanoparticles were evaluated by studying carvacrol encapsulation. It was shown that the antisolvent precipitation can be successfully used to prepare the shellac and rosin nanoparticles, as well as the composite zein/shellac and the zein/rosin nanoparticles. Colloidal properties, d and , of the obtained nanoparticles are influenced by the zein/ /resin mass ratio and the pH of nanoparticles’ dispersions. The isoelectric point of composite nanoparticles can be modulated by varying the zein/resin mass ratio. It was found that the zein/rosin nanoparticles are suitable for carvacrol encapsulation, where carvacrol release is enhanced by increasing the rosin share in the composite zein/rosin nanoparticles. [Project of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. III 46010/3]

Silicon Oxide nanoparticle (SiO2-NP) with appropriate surface functionalization has tremendous potential in enhanced oil recovery (EOR) via wettability alternation, interfacial tension reduction, disjoining pressure enhancement, electric charge modification, etc. Prior to the application of SiO2 to EOR, an effective functionalization and an accurate characterization of the surface properties are indispensable. Though many experimental works have been performed in this area, a systematic review is still lacking. Therefore, a review of the above content is presented. Current research gaps are identified, and future outlooks are indicated. This review provides guidance for SiO2-NP surface functionalization, characterization, and evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the development of nanomaterials with biocidal properties has received considerable attention due to their potential applications in various industries, including food, medicine, and cultural heritage preservation. The growing demand for coatings with antibacterial properties has sparked interest from industrial sectors in exploring the incorporation of biocides into these materials. Coatings are prone to microbial growth, which can cause damage such as cracking, discoloration, and staining. To combat these problems, the integration of biocides into coatings is a crucial strategy. Biocide-embedded nanomaterials offer numerous advantages, including high efficiency in small quantities, ease of application, good chemical stability, low toxicity, and non-bioaccumulation. Encapsulated nanobiocides are particularly attractive to the agro-industry, because they can be less toxic than traditional biocides while still effectively controlling microbial contamination. To fully exploit the benefits of nanobiocides, future research should focus on optimizing their synthesis, formulation, and delivery methods. The purpose of this review is to summarize the current status of biocide nanomaterials, discuss potential future research directions, and highlight research methods, the development of new forms of nanomaterials, and studies of their physico-chemical properties. Biocide nanocapsules of DCOIT (4,5-Dichloro-2-octyl-2H-isothiazol-3-one) are chosen as an example to illustrate the research pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interaction between nanoparticles and cationic surfactants is an exciting and emerging field in interfacial science. This area of research holds significant promise, linking fundamental principles to practical applications in a variety of industries, including chemical processes, biomedical applications and the petroleum industry. This study explores the interaction between dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DoTAB) and silica (SiO2) nanoparticles, investigating their influence on dynamic interfacial properties and foam characteristics. Through equilibrium and dynamic surface tension measurements, along with examining the dilational visco-elasticity behavior, this research reveals the complex surface behavior of DoTAB/SiO2 mixtures compared to individual surfactant solutions. The foamability and stability experiments indicate that the addition of SiO2 significantly improves the foam stability. Notably, stable foams are achieved at low SiO2 concentrations, suggesting a cost-effective approach to enhancing the foam stability. This study identifies the optimal stability conditions for 12 mM DoTAB solutions, emphasizing the crucial role of the critical aggregation concentration region. These findings offer valuable insights for designing surfactant-nanoparticle formulations to enhance foam performance in various industrial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The performance of innovative training system aimed at highly intellectual specialists in the area of nanotechnologies for Kazakhstan’s economy demands establishment and development of nanotechnological market in the country, teaching of innovative engineering combined with consistent research, integration of trained specialists with latest technologies and sciences at the international level. Methodological aspects of training competitive specialists for nanotechnological field are specific. The paper presents methodological principles of innovative training of specialists for science-intensive industry that were realized according to grant given by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Fluorescent nanoparticles have been the focus of research and development in the past decade. Compared with traditional fluorescent organic dyes, fluorescent nanoparticles have unique chemical and optical properties, such as brighter fluorescence, higher light stability, and higher biocompatibility. In addition, nanoparticles （NPs） can also be used as multivalent scaffolds for supramolecular assembly, because their high surface-area-to-volume ratio allows different domains to be functionalized, which can provide a multifunctional synthesis platform for different sensing schemes. This paper reviews the research progress of fluorescent nanoparticles including semiconductor NPs （quantum dots）, metal NPs and silica NPs in recent years. Typical examples show how fluorescent nanomaterials, including semiconductor nanocrystals, metal nanoparticles and silicon-based nanomaterials, are manufactured. The challenges related to the market position of fluorescent NPs are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper evaluated the potential of zein–resins nanoparticles to act as a carrier for water‐insoluble oil carvacrol. The rosin and shellac were used as natural resins in different mass ratios to plant protein zein. Rosin is one of the natural gums. Shellac is a resinous secretion of the insect. The influence of nanoparticle composition on colloidal properties, encapsulation efficiency, and release of oil was studied. Zeta potential and size of thus prepared nanoparticles were studied. Carvacrol encapsulation efficiency and release were determined by the HPLC method developed for these compounds. Results showed that the resin type and share affect encapsulation efficiency and release of carvacrol. It was also shown that the addition of resins enhanced release from nanoparticles, compared to plain zein nanoparticles. Findings in the present work will help further understanding the interaction between alcohol–soluble biopolymers and provide new insight into the development of natural carriers for bioactive compounds. Novelty impact statement: Natural polymers derived from food are considered desirable materials for constructing delivery systems to encapsulate, protect, and release bioactive components in nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, and food. Therefore, this paper is approached to fabricate the carvacrol‐loaded zein/rosin (Z/R) and zein/shellac (Z/S) composite nanoparticles (NPs). Findings in the present work will help further understanding of the interaction between alcohol–soluble biopolymers (e.g., zein, rosin, and shellac) and provide new insight into the development of natural carriers for bioactive compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]