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[Display omitted] • Green synthesis of ZnO NPs with biopolymer pullulan as the capping agent. • Dependence of ZnO NPs properties on the amount of zinc salt in presence of pullulan. • Feasibility of drugs degradation using green fabricated ZnO NPs. • Effect of photocatalytic parameters on drugs' degradation rate. Heterogeneous photocatalysis is one of the popular alternative treatment methods for wastewater. It utilizes semiconductor material as the catalyst and metal oxide such as zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs), emerged as the commonly used catalyst. In this study, a series of biogenic ZnO NPs was fabricated through precipitation method with pullulan as the biomaterial. The amount of zinc salt in the presence of pullulan was varied to study its impact on the generated ZnO NPs. The results showed that without pullulan, the average particle size of ZnO NPs obtained was 110.86 nm. With 0.84 M zinc salt in 50 g/L of pullulan, the ZnO NPs average particle size significantly reduced to 58.13 nm. The surface area of all synthesized ZnO NPs ranging from 14.84 to 19.99 m2 g−1. The photocatalytic activities of all synthesized ZnO NPs were evaluated through the photodegradation of two drugs, amoxicillin (AMX) and paracetamol (PCT). Through the comparison of drugs' photodegradation with all synthesized ZnO NPs, ZnO NPs produced with 0.67 M zinc salt in 50 g/L of pullulan showed the highest degradation percentage of 85.7% and 96.8% for AMX and PCT respectively. The best photodegradation conditions for the drugs were 30 ppm drugs concentration, pH 9 (for AMX) and pH 5 (for PCT) and 50 mg catalyst dosage. Based on these results, biogenic ZnO NPs has high potential to be used in the treatment of pharmaceutical wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetite nanoparticles (Fe3O4 NPs) have received considerable attention in various biomedical applications due to their fascinating properties and multiple functionalities. In this multidisciplinary study, Fe3O4 NPs were produced by an inexpensive co-precipitation technique and using four different weight percentages of Punica granatum fruit peel extract as a green stabilizer. From the image of transmission electron microscopy, the NPs showed spherical shapes with an average size of 14.38 nm. Results of UV–VIS spectroscopy and bandgap indicated successful preparation of the Fe3O4 NPs stabilized with the extract. Adding the stabilizer concentration improved the particle zeta potential from −29.24 to −35.62 mV. Thermoresponsive performance of the Fe3O4 nanofluids with the green extract could render a remarkable heating capability under the hyperthermia condition. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) analysis presented that the samples possessed acceptable MRI signals. An anticancer drug 5-fluorouracil was successfully loaded onto the Fe3O4 NPs containing 2 weight percentage of the extract, which indicated a maximum release of 79% in a media with pH 7.4. In cytotoxicity assays, the drug-loaded Fe3O4 NPs at 15.62 and 31.25 µg.ml−1 concentration eliminated 29% and 35% of HCT116 colorectal cancer cells, respectively. This study, therefore, introduced that the green-synthesized Fe3O4 NPs can be a promising candidate for magnetic hyperthermia therapy, MRI nanoagents and drug delivery in colorectal cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water is one of the humanity's major resources, but it is actually at risk due to growth and urbanization. Water reclamation and reuse was introduced as one of the solutions. However, the presence of organic pollutants, such as dyes, in the reclaim water can cause adverse effect to human. The dyes can be removed through photocatalysis process where semiconductor materials such as zinc oxide (ZnO) is used as the catalyst. In this research, several zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) were developed with pullulan as the capping agent through green synthesis. The impact of calcination conditions on the properties of synthesized ZnO NPs was explored. All the synthesized samples were subjected to photocatalytic degradation of two dyes, methyl orange (MO) and rhodamine B (RhB). The results indicated that with the increment of calcination temperature, the average particles size increased from 28.86 to 127.69 nm and the surface area reduced from 30.7996 to 12.3757 m2 g−1. As the calcination time changed, substantial impact was observed where, as calcination time increased to 2 h, the average particles size and the surface area significantly increased and reduced, respectively. The best photocatalytic degradation of MO and RhB was observed using ZnO NPs produced at 400 °C and 1 h calcination conditions. Overall, ZnO NPs have a good prospect to be applied for removal of dyes in wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unique properties of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) produced using plant extract make them attractive for use in medical as well as industrial applications, and it is necessary to develop environmentally friendly methods for their synthesis. This can be accomplished by replacing the traditional chemical compounds for the reduction of the zinc ions to ZnO-NPs during synthesis with natural plant extracts. Here, the biosynthesis of ZnO-NPs using Punica granatum (P. granatum) fruit peels extract was investigated as the reducing and stabilizing agent. The P. granatum /ZnO-NPs with spherical and hexagonal shapes were biosynthesized at different annealing temperatures. The X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the synthesis of highly pure ZnO-NPs with increasing crystallinity in higher annealing temperatures. The ZnO-NPs displayed characteristic absorption peaks between 370 and 378 nm in the UV–vis spectra. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging showed the formation of mostly spherical and hexagonal-shaped ZnO-NPs in the mean size of 32.98 nm and 81.84 nm at 600 °C and 700 °C respectively. According to FTIR spectrum, strong absorption bands in the range of 462–487 cm−1 corresponding to Zn O bond stretching can be seen. Antibacterial activities of P. granatum /ZnO-NPs against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) were investigated and compared. Results obtained show that smaller-sized P. granatum /ZnO-NPs are more effective in inhibiting growth of both bacteria. In addition, cytotoxicity assays were performed for P. granatum /ZnO-NPs against human colon normal and cancerous cells. P. granatum /ZnO-NPs exhibited similar killing activities of both cell lines at the concentration of ≥31.25 μg/mL. The biosynthesized ZnO-NPs could offer potential applications in bio-medical field. Image 1 • ZnO nanoparticles were prepared using Punica granatum fruit peels extract by sol-gel and thermal decomposition methods. • The ZnO-NPs were characterized by XRD, UV–visible spectroscopy, TEM, FESEM, and FTIR. • P. granatum /ZnO-NPs exhibited excellent antibacterial activities against Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract A massive release of harmful substances especially heavy metal ions and dyes to the environment has been a major concern due to many people disregards the proper protocols in the waste management. The freshwater supplies are threatened and huge discharge of pollutants result from various anthropogenic activities may pose a major threat to the living organisms and negatively affect the ecosystem stability. This article reviews the development of magnetic iron oxide nanocomposites for removal of heavy metal ions and dyes from water. The highlight will be focused on current research activities for controlled size and dispersion of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles within solid matrices including zeolites, silica, clays, carbon, activated carbon, graphene and graphene oxide. The magnetic properties of the nanocomposites will be evaluated to determine whether they possessed sufficient magnetization for easy separation by an external magnet. The unique features of the synthesized materials will be investigated along with their application in the removal of heavy metal ions and dyes. The advantages and limitations of the magnetic nanocomposites will be highlighted to determine their adsorption ability. The effect of various parameters such as pH, contaminants concentration, adsorbent dosage, contact time and temperature will be summarized to identify the best condition for effective pollutants removal. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • Synthesis, properties and application of magnetic iron oxide NCs for the adsorption of heavy metal ions and dyes. • Methods for the preparation of magnetic iron oxide NCs with control over the size, morphology and the magnetic properties. • Factors affecting the adsorption of heavy metal ions and dyes in water by magnetic iron oxide NCs. • Influence of the iron oxide loading and specific surface area of NCs on removal of heavy metal ions and dyes in water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Core-shell Fe 3 O 4 /Au nanostructures were constructed using an advanced method of two-step synthesis from Juglans regia (walnut) green husk extract. Several complementary methods were applied to investigate structural and magnetic properties of the samples. X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), electron diffraction, optical, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) were used for nanoparticle characterizations. As shown by HR-TEM, the mean diameter of core-shell Fe 3 O 4 /Au nanoparticles synthesized using co-precipitation method was 6.08 ± 1.06 nm. This study shows that the physical and structural properties of core-shell Fe 3 O 4 /Au nanoparticles possess intrinsic properties of gold and magnetite. VSM revealed that the core-shell Fe 3 O 4 /Au have high saturation magnetization and low coercivity due to the magnetic properties. The core-shell nanoparticles show the inhibitory concentration (IC) 50 of 235 μg/ml against a colorectal cancer cell line, HT-29. When tested against non-cancer cells, IC 50 was not achieved even up to 500 μg/ml. This study highlights the magnetic properties and anticancer action of core-shell Fe 3 O 4 /Au nanoparticles. This compound can be ideal candidate for cancer treatment and other biomedical applications. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • Gold ion was coated on surface of iron oxide using Juglans regia green husk (walnut) that acts as size controlled. • Green synthesized core shell nanoparticles were successfully was carried out by autoclaved. • The non-toxic effect of core shell nanoparticles was observed on normal but could eliminate the cancerous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biosynthesis of noble metal nanoparticles is a vast developing area of research. In the present study, silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) are synthesized from aqueous silver nitrate through a simple and biosynthetic route using aqueous extract of Entada spiralis stem powder, which acted simultaneously as a reductant and stabilizer. The prepared samples are characterized using UV-visible, XRD, TEM, SEM, EDX, zeta potential and FTIR techniques. The formation of Ag-NPs is evidenced by the appearance of the signature brown color of the solution and UV-Vis spectra. Formation of E. spiralis/Ag-NPs is determined by UV-Vis spectroscopy, where surface plasmon resonance (SPR) absorption maxima can be observed at 400-450 nm from the UV-Vis spectrum at moderate temperature (~ 52 °C). The XRD analysis shows that the Ag-NPs at moderate temperature have a face-centered cubic structure (FCC). Well-dispersed Ag-NPs with anisotropic and isotropic morphology for E. spiralis/Ag-NPs at room and moderate temperature, with sizes of around 39.82 and 17.56 nm, are observed in TEM images. The SAED pattern exhibits the cubic lattice structure for Ag-NPs, and the d-spacing value of the crystalline structure of Ag-NPs measures around ~ 0.14 nm, which is attributed to the Ag-NPs of the (220) cubic plain at an angle of 64.78°. The spherical shapes of Ag-NPs with proper distribution for both reaction temperatures are observed in SEM images. The FTIR analysis reveals the main functional groups in the E. spiralis stem powder extract involved in the binding of Ag-NPs. The overall performance of the biosynthesis of Ag-NPs indicates that the formation of Ag-NPs using E. spiralis stem powder extract is temperature-dependent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polysaccharide-based magnetic nanocomposites can eminently illuminate several attractive features as anticancer drug carriers. In this study, rice straw-based cellulose nanowhisker (CNW) was used as solid support for Fe 3 O 4 nanofillers to synthesize magnetic CNW. Then, cross-linked chitosan-coated magnetic CNW for 5-fluorouracil carrier abbreviated as CH/MCNW/5FU. Fourier-transform infrared, X-Ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis indicated successful fabrication and multifunctional properties of the CH/MCNW/5FU nanocomposites. In addition, CH/MCNW/5FU nanocomposites showed hydrodynamic diameter and zeta potential value of 181.31 ± 3.46 nm and +23 ± 1.8 mV, respectively. Based on images of transmission electron microscopy, magnetic CNW as reinforcement was coated with chitosan to obtain almost spherical CH/MCNW/5FU nanocomposites with an average diameter of 37.16 ± 3.08. The nanocomposites indicated desired saturation magnetization and thermal stability, high drug encapsulation efficiency, and pH-dependent swelling and drug release performance. CH/MCNW/5FU nanocomposites showed potent killing effects against colorectal cancer cells in both 2D monolayer and 3D spheroid models. These findings suggest CH/MCNW as a potential carrier for anticancer drugs with high tumour-penetrating capacity. [Display omitted] • Chitosan-coated magnetic cellulose nanocrystals as 5-Fluorouracil nanocarrier (CH/MCNC/5-FU) indicated desired physiochemical properties. • CH/MCNC/5-FU showed prolonged and sustained drug release. • CH/MCNC/5-FU caused potent killing effects against colorectal cancer cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unique properties of gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs) produce in plant extract make them attractive for use in medical and industrial applications, it is necessary to develop environmentally friendly methods for their synthesis. This can be accomplished by replacing the traditional chemical compounds for the reduction of the gold ions to Au-NPs during synthesis with natural plant extracts or with plasmas atmospheric pressure. Here, the biosynthesis of Au-NPs using the Juglans regia ( J. regia ) green husk extract was investigated as the reducing and stabilizing agent. The formation of Au-NPs was initially monitored by visual observation and then characterized with the help of various characterization techniques. UV–vis spectroscopy results showed that Au-NPs synthesized using moderate temperature have a blue shifting, good distribution and smaller size compare with Au-NPs fabricated in room temperature. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results revealed the distinctive formation of the crystalline structure of Au-NPs with a spherical shape. According to transmission electron microscopy (TEM), the mean diameter and standard deviation of Au-NPs at room and moderate temperatures were 19.19 ± 4.7 and 14.32 ± 3.24 nm, respectively. The result of Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) are in good agreement with each other and confirm that by using the moderate temperature compare to the room temperature the yield of reaction increased. Based on the zeta potential result, Au-NPs has sufficient value for the stability of the solution. According to FTIR spectrum, the J. regia would be coated on the gold ions surface in a successful manner. The non-toxic effect of Au-NPs concentration below 250 μg/ml was observed in the studies of in vitro cytotoxicity on normal and cancerous cell lines, respectively. The dose-dependent toxicity made it a suitable candidate for various medical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a green, facile and rapid method to prepare magnetite/zeolite-nanocomposites (NCs) in one step procedure at ambient temperature. The powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) pattern of iron oxide nanoparticles (NPs) with the sole zeolite showed the broadening of zeolite peaks attributed to the incorporation of Fe 3 O 4 . Field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) analysis depicted that the Fe 3 O 4 ‒NPs were formed on the surface of porous zeolite framework. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis displayed the Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles (NPs) were mostly in spherical shape with a mean diameter and standard deviation of 2.40 ± 0.41 nm. The selected-area electron diffraction (SAED) pattern confirmed the presence of cubic Fe 3 O 4 phase. The vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) results indicated the as-synthesized sample has a saturation magnetization of around 6.52 emu g −1 . The magnetite/zeolite-NCs can be considered as a low-cost alternative catalyst for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) process. The electrochemical measurement showed that the performance of magnetite/zeolite-NCs towards the ORR increased as the scan rate increased from 20 mV s −1 to 500 mV s −1 . The ORR is a diffusion-controlled process in the alkaline medium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green methods are a safer alternative to natural chemical and physical methods for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs), due to their being environmentally friendly and cost effective. This study offers a new green approach using ultrasound irradiation as the reducing agent and seaweed Kappaphycus alvarezii ( K. alvarezii) as the natural bio-media. The seaweed K. alvarezii/Ag-NPs was characterised by ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscope with energy dispersive X-ray (FESEM-EDX), zeta potential, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) studies. UV-vis shows that surface plasmon resonance (SPR) arises from this solution due to the combined oscillations from the nanoparticles. The XRD study indicates the crystalline nature of the Ag-NPs. From the TEM images, the Ag-NPs are almost spherical with an average diameter of 11.78 nm. The FTIR spectrum provides adequate evidence of phytochemicals stabilising the nanoparticles. Synthesised Ag-NPs were successfully obtained using this green method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) was achieved by a simple green chemistry procedure using sodium alginate (Na-Alg) under ultrasonic radiation as a stabilizer and physical reducing agent. The effect of radiation time on the synthesis of Ag-NPs was carried out at room temperature until 720 min. The successful formation of Ag-NPs has been confirmed by UV-Vis, XRD, TEM, FESEM-EDX, zeta potential, and FT-IR analyses. The surface plasmon resonance band appeared at the range of 452–465 nm that is an evidence of formation of Ag-NPs. The XRD study showed that the particles are crystalline structure in nature, with a face-centered cubic (fcc) structure. The TEM study showed the Ag-NPs have average diameters of around 20.16–22.38 nm with spherical shape. The FESEM-EDX analysis confirmed the spherical shape of Ag-NPs on the surface of Alg and the element of Ag with the high purity. The zeta potential showed high stability of Alg/Ag-NPs especially after 720 min irradiation with value of −67.56 mV. The FT-IR spectrum confirmed that the Ag-NPs have been capped by the Alg with van der Waals interaction. The Alg/Ag-NPs showed the antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. These suggest that Ag-NPs can be employed as an effective bacteria inhibitor and can be applied in medical field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis of gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs) is performed by the reduction of aqueous gold metal ions in contact with the aqueous peel extract of plant, Garcinia mangostana (G. mangostana). An absorption peak of the gold nanoparticles is observed at the range of 540–550 nm using UV-visible spectroscopy. All the diffraction peaks at 2θ = 38.48°, 44.85°, 66.05°, and 78.00° that index to (111), (200), (220), and (311) planes confirm the successful synthesis of Au-NPs. Mostly spherical shape particles with size range of 32.96 ± 5.25 nm are measured using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). From the FTIR results, the peaks obtained are closely related to phenols, flavonoids, benzophenones, and anthocyanins which suggest that they may act as the reducing agent. This method is environmentally safe without the usage of synthetic materials which is highly potential in biomedical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A green sonochemical method was developed for preparing silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) in κ-carrageenan in different concentrations of AgNO. The κ-carrageenan was used as an eco-friendly stabilizer and ultrasonic irradiation as a green reducing agent. The number of Ag-NPs increased with increasing concentrations of AgNO. Formation of Ag/κ-carrageenan was determined by UV-visible spectroscopy where the surface plasmon absorption maximum was observed at 410-416 nm. XRD analysis showed the Ag-NPs are of a face-centered cubic structure. TEM images showed the well-dispersed Ag-NPs with an average particle size <5 nm. SEM images showed the spherical shape of the Ag-NPs. The FT-IR spectrum indicated the presence of κ-carrageenan in capping the Ag-NPs. The use of photo irradiation provides a green and economic method features to the synthesis reported in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sonochemical method as a green method for the preparation and size control of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) formed in κ-carrageenan has been developed. κ-carrageenan was chosen because it is an eco-friendly stabilizer and ultrasonic irradiation reducing agent. Formations of Ag/κ-carrageenan were determined by electronic spectroscopy where the surface plasmon absorption maxima were observed at 437-412 nm. The FT-IR spectrum indicated the presence of κ-carrageenan in capping with Ag-NPs. The XRD analysis proved that the Ag-NPs were of a face-centered cubic structure. TEM images displayed well-dispersed Ag-NPs with an average particle size of less than 10 nm. SEM images indicated the spherical shape of the Ag-NPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) have been synthesized by using a chemical reducing method in the external space of talc layers as a solid support at room temperature. NaBH and AgNO were used as a reducing agent and silver precursor, respectively. The interlamellar space limits were without many changes and, therefore, Ag NPs formed on the exterior surface of talc composites with mean diameters 7.60-13.11 nm for different silver nitrate concentrations. The antibacterial effects of different sizes of Ag NPs in talc were investigated against Gram-positive (i.e. Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus) and Gram-negative (i.e. Escherichia coli) bacteria by the disk diffusion method using Mueller-Hinton Agar. The AgNO was found to have significant antibacterial activity against Ag NPs that did not indicate any antibacterial effects. These results showed that Ag NPs entrapped in the surface of talc layers cannot be used as effective growth inhibitors in different biological systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biosynthesis of noble metal nanoparticles is a vast developing area of research. In the present study, silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) were synthesized from aqueous silver nitrate through a simple and biosynthetic route using water extract of Curcuma longa ( C. longa) tuber powder, which acted simultaneousl as a reductant and stabilizery. The as-prepared samples are characterized using UV-Visible, XRD, TEM, SEM, EDXF, and FT-IR techniques. The formation of Ag-NPs is evidenced by the appearance of the signatory brown color of the solution and UV-vis spectra. Formation of Ag/ C. longa was determined by UV-Vis spectroscopy where surface plasmon absorption maxima can be observed at 457-415 nm from the UV-Vis spectrum. The XRD analysis shows that the Ag-NPs are of a face-centered cubic structure. Well-dispersed Ag-NPs with anisotropic and isotropic morphology for 5, 10, and 20 mL of C. longa water extract having a size less than 10 nm are seen in TEM images. The optimum volume extraction to synthesize smallest particle size was 20 mL with mean diameter and standard division 4.90 ± 1.42 nm. FT-IR spectrum indicates the presence of different functional groups in capping the nanoparticles with C. longa. The zeta potential analysis results indicated that the charge of C. longa was negative and increased in Ag/ C. longa emulsion with increasing of volumes of extract used (10-20 mL). The most needed outcome of this work will be the development of value-added products from C. longa for biomedical and nanotechnology-based industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to investigate the antibacterial effect of silver nanoparticles in chitosan-poly(ethylene glycol) suspension. The silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were prepared by use of an environmentally benign method from chitosan (Cts) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) at moderate temperature and with stirring for different times. Silver nitrate (AgNO) was used as the metal precursor and Cts and PEG were used as solid support and polymeric stabilizer, respectively. The antibacterial activity of silver-chitosan-poly(ethylene glycol) nanocomposites (Ag-Cts-PEG NCs) against Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteum, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli was tested by use of the Mueller-Hinton agar disk-diffusion method. Formation of AgNPs was determined by UV-visible spectroscopy; surface plasmon absorption maxima were observed at 415-430 nm in the UV-visible spectrum. The peaks in the XRD pattern confirmed that the AgNPs had a face-centered cubic structure; peaks of contaminated crystalline phases were not observed. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that the AgNPs synthesized were spherical. The optimum stirring time for synthesis of the smallest particle size (mean diameter 5.50 nm) was 12 h. The AgNPs in Cts-PEG were effective against all the bacteria tested. Higher antibacterial activity was observed for AgNPs with smaller size. These results suggest that AgNPs can be used as an effective inhibitor of bacteria and can be used in medical applications. These results also suggest that AgNPs were successfully synthesized in Cts-PEG suspension at moderate temperature with different stirring times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background This study aims to investigate the influence of different stirring time for synthesis of silver nanoparticles in glutathione (GSH) aqueous solution. The silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) were prepared by green synthesis method using GSH as reducing agent and stabilizer, under moderate temperature at different stirring times. Silver nitrate (AgNO3) was taken as the metal precursor while Ag-NPs were prepared in the over reaction time. Results Formation of Ag-NPs was determined by UV-vis spectroscopy where surface plasmon absorption maxima can be observed at 344-354 nm from the UV-vis spectrum. The synthesized nanoparticles were also characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The peaks in the XRD pattern confirmed that the Ag-NPs possessed a face-centered cubic and peaks of contaminated crystalline phases were unable to be located. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that Ag-NPs synthesized were in spherical shape. Zeta potential results indicate that the stability of the Ag-NPs is increases at the 72 h stirring time of reaction comparison to GSH. The Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrum suggested the complexation present between GSH and Ag-NPs. The use of green chemistry reagents, such as peptide, provides green and economic features to this work. Conclusions Ag-NPs were successfully synthesized in GSH aqueous solution under moderate temperature at different stirring times. The study clearly showed that the Ag-NPs synthesized in the long times of stirring, thus, the kinetic of GSH reaction is very slow. TEM results shows that with the increase of stirring times the mean particle size of Ag-NPs become increases. The FT-IR spectrum suggested the complexation present between GSH and Ag-NPs. These suggest that Ag-NPs can be employed as an effective bacteria inhibitor and can be applied in medical field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structural properties of nickel doped cobalt ferrite were synthesized by co-precipitation method with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as a surfactant at different temperatures. The particle size was estimated by the full width half maximum (FWHM) of the strongest X-ray diffraction (XRD) peak. The average particle size was in the range of 21-36 nm. The particles size was controlled via controlling calcination temperature which was in the range of 600 to 900°C. The morphology of nickel doped cobalt ferrite was investigated. The results showed that a well crystalline single cubic structure of nickel doped CoFe2O4 phase was formed through precipitation precursors at pH value of 11. The pH was adjusted by the use of ammonium hydroxide solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoemulsions (NEs) as multi-compartmentalized systems are extensively considered as versatile drug delivery systems, due to their multifunctional and tuneable physicochemical properties. Here, water-in-oil-in-water (WOW) NEs were formulated using Juglans regia -based Fe 3 O 4 /Au-core-shell nanoparticles to encapsulate 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) for potential colorectal cancer treatment. Response surface methodology, FTIR, TGA, TEM, DLS, VSM, UV-vis spectroscopy, and viscosity measurements were used to characterize the fabricated samples. The analysis confirmed the successful synthesis of Au, Fe 3 O 4 , and Fe 3 O 4 /Au core-shell nanoparticles with the Juglans regia (J. regia) extract as a green stabilizer and also reducing agent. The NE displayed a spherical-shape and TEM size of~30 nm. It also exhibited good colloidal stability and multifunctional features related to its components. TGA data indicated that 5-FU increased thermal stability after its loading into the nanoemulsion as a drug carrier. 5-FU release from the NE carrier presented a time-delayed behavior and higher release dosage in media at pH 4 compared to pH 7 within 48 h. When tested against colorectal-derived cell lines, 0.78 µg/mL of 5-FU-loaded Fe 3 O 4 /Au core-shell NEs showed potent anticancer activity against HCT116 cancerous cells, while exhibiting low toxicity towards CCD112 normal cells. In conclusion, the synthesized 5-FU-loaded NEs can be potently used as an anticancer drug carrier model, owing to its nano-scale size and other functionalities, which should be further studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anatase titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TNPs) are synthesized by a simple and cost-effective process with and without freshly water-soluble egg white proteins (albumin) via sol-gel method. The main advantage of using egg white proteins as a gelling agent is that it can provide long-term stability for nanoparticles by preventing particles agglomeration. The X-ray diffraction and FTIR results indicate that the synthesized nanoparticles have only the anatase structure without the presence of any other phase impurities. Additionally, the TNPs are characterized by a number of techniques such as thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and ultraviolet visible spectra (UV-vis). The sizes of titanium dioxide nanoparticles with and without using egg white solution are 12.55 ± 3.42 nm and 21.45 ± 4.21 nm, respectively. The results indicate that egg white solution is a reliable and cheap green gelling agent that can be used as a matrix in the sol-gel method to synthesis tiny size TNPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent environmental problems and societal concerns associated with the disposal of petroleum based plastics throughout the world have triggered renewed efforts to develop new biodegradable products compatible with our environment. This article describes the preparation, characterization and biodegradation study of poly(lactic acid)/layered double hydroxide (PLA/LDH) nanocomposites from PLA and stearate-Zn3Al LDH. A solution casting method was used to prepare PLA/stearate-Zn3Al LDH nanocomposites. The anionic clay Zn3Al LDH was firstly prepared by co-precipitation method from a nitrate salt solution at pH 7.0 and then modified by stearate anions through an ion exchange reaction. This modification increased the basal spacing of the synthetic clay from 8.83 Å to 40.10 Å. The morphology and properties of the prepared PLA/stearate-Zn3Al LDH nanocomposites were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), tensile tests as well as biodegradation studies. From the XRD analysis and TEM observation, the stearate-Zn3Al LDH lost its ordered stacking-structure and was greatly exfoliated in the PLA matrix. Tensile test results of PLA/stearate-Zn3Al LDH nanocomposites showed that the presence of around 1.0-3.0 wt % of the stearate-Zn3Al LDH in the PLA drastically improved its elongation at break. The biodegradation studies demonstrated a significant biodegradation rate improvement of PLA in the presence of stearate-Zn3Al LDH nanolayers. This effect can be caused by the catalytic role of the stearate groups in the biodegradation mechanism leading to much faster disintegration of nanocomposites than pure PLA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different biological methods are gaining recognition for the production of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) due to their multiple applications. The use of plants in the green synthesis of nanoparticles emerges as a cost effective and eco-friendly approach. In this study the green biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles using Callicarpa maingayi stem bark extract has been reported. Characterizations of nanoparticles were done using different methods, which include; ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXF) spectrometry, zeta potential measurements and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. UV-visible spectrum of the aqueous medium containing silver nanoparticles showed absorption peak at around 456 nm. The TEM study showed that mean diameter and standard deviation for the formation of silver nanoparticles were 12.40 ± 3.27 nm. The XRD study showed that the particles are crystalline in nature, with a face centered cubic (fcc) structure. The most needed outcome of this work will be the development of value added products from Callicarpa maingayi for biomedical and nanotechnology based industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The roles of green chemistry in nanotechnology and nanoscience fields are very significant in the synthesis of diverse nanomaterials. Herein, we report a green chemistry method for synthesized colloidal silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) in polymeric media. The colloidal Ag NPs were synthesized in an aqueous solution using silver nitrate, polyethylene glycol (PEG), and ß-D-glucose as a silver precursor, stabilizer, and reducing agent, respectively. The properties of synthesized colloidal Ag NPs were studied at different reaction times. The ultraviolet-visible spectra were in excellent agreement with the obtained nanostructure studies performed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and their size distributions. The Ag NPs were characterized by utilizing X-ray diffraction (XRD), zeta potential measurements and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR). The use of green chemistry reagents, such as glucose, provides green and economic features to this work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aims to investigate the influence of different stirring times on antibacterial activity of silver nanoparticles in polyethylene glycol (PEG) suspension. The silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) were prepared by green synthesis method using green agents, polyethylene glycol (PEG) under moderate temperature at different stirring times. Silver nitrate (AgNO3) was taken as the metal precursor while PEG was used as the solid support and polymeric stabilizer. The antibacterial activity of different sizes of nanosilver was investigated against Gram-positive [Staphylococcus aureus] and Gram-negative bacteria [Salmonella typhimurium SL1344] by the disk diffusion method using Müeller-Hinton Agar. Results: Formation of Ag-NPs was determined by UV-vis spectroscopy where surface plasmon absorption maxima can be observed at 412-437 nm from the UV-vis spectrum. The synthesized nanoparticles were also characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The peaks in the XRD pattern confirmed that the Ag-NPs possessed a face-centered cubic and peaks of contaminated crystalline phases were unable to be located. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that Ag-NPs synthesized were in spherical shape. The optimum stirring time to synthesize smallest particle size was 6 hours with mean diameter of 11.23 nm. Zeta potential results indicate that the stability of the Ag-NPs is increases at the 6 h stirring time of reaction. The Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrum suggested the complexation present between PEG and Ag-NPs. The Ag-NPs in PEG were effective against all bacteria tested. Higher antibacterial activity was observed for Ag-NPs with smaller size. These suggest that Ag-NPs can be employed as an effective bacteria inhibitor and can be applied in medical field. Conclusions: Ag-NPs were successfully synthesized in PEG suspension under moderate temperature at different stirring times. The study clearly showed that the Ag-NPs with different stirring times exhibit inhibition towards the tested gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copper nanoparticles (Cu‐NPs) have garnered substantial interest in the field of nanotechnology due to their exceptional physical and chemical properties and cost‐effectiveness. However, challenges such as particle aggregation and rapid copper oxidation affect nanoscale production. This study systematically investigates the synthesis of colloidal Cu‐NPs using chitosan (Cts) as a stabilizer and reducing agent in the arc discharge system, comparing it to distilled water as a medium. Confirmation of the purity, size, and morphology of the Cu‐NPs is achieved through various physicochemical characterization methods. X‐ray diffraction patterns confirm the synthesis of highly pure face‐centered cubic (fcc) crystal Cu‐NPs. UV–vis analysis reveals absorption peaks at 572–585 nm, indicating pure copper. Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy shows peaks at 638 and 597 cm−1, corresponding to Cu─Cts bonds. Transmission electron microscopy images depict spherical nanoparticles ranging from 15 to 45 nm, with smaller sizes at higher Cts concentrations. The catalytic activity of Cu‐NPs in the degradation of 4‐nitrophenol to 4‐aminophenol is assessed, with Cu‐NPs synthesized in distilled water demonstrating superior catalytic properties compared to 0.10 wt.% Cts. This study highlights the efficacy of the arc discharge method in producing pure, uniformly sized Cu‐NPs with potential applications in catalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discovery of a novel anticancer drug delivery agent is important to replace conventional cancer therapies which are often accompanied by undesired side effects. This study demonstrated the synthesis of superparamagnetic magnetite nanocomposites (Fe3O4-NCs) using a green method. Montmorillonite (MMT) was used as matrix support, while Fe3O4 nanoparticles (NPs) and carrageenan (CR) were used as filler and stabilizer, respectively. The combination of these materials resulted in a novel nanocomposite (MMT/CR/Fe3O4-NCs). A series of characterization experiments was conducted. The purity of MMT/CR/Fe3O4-NCs was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) analysis revealed the uniform and spherical shape of Fe3O4 NPs with an average particle size of 9.3 ± 1.2 nm. Vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) analysis showed an Ms value of 2.16 emu/g with negligible coercivity which confirmed the superparamagnetic properties. Protocatechuic acid (PCA) was loaded onto the MMT/CR/Fe3O4-NCs and a drug release study showed that 15% and 92% of PCA was released at pH 7.4 and 4.8, respectively. Cytotoxicity assays showed that both MMT/CR/Fe3O4-NCs and MMT/CR/Fe3O4-PCA effectively killed HCT116 which is a colorectal cancer cell line. Dose-dependent inhibition was seen and the killing was enhanced two-fold by the PCA-loaded NCs (IC50–0.734 mg/mL) compared to the unloaded NCs (IC50–1.5 mg/mL). This study highlights the potential use of MMT/CR/Fe3O4-NCs as a biologically active pH-responsive drug delivery agent. Further investigations are warranted to delineate the mechanism of cell entry and cancer cell killing as well as to improve the therapeutic potential of MMT/CR/Fe3O4-NCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is believed of great interest to incorporate silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) into stable supported materials using biological methods to control the adverse properties of nanoscale particles. In this study, in-situ biofabrication of Ag-NPs using Entada spiralis (E. spiralis) aqueous extract in Ceiba pentandra (C. pentandra) fiber as supporting material was used in which, the E. spiralis extract acted as both reducing and stabilizing agents to incorporate Ag-NPs in the C. pentandra fiber. The properties of Ag-NPs incorporated in the C. pentandra fiber (C. pentandra/Ag-NPs) were characterized using UV-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Field Emission Transmission Electron Microscope (FETEM), Scanning Electron Microscope (Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), Thermogravimetric (TGA) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) analyses. The average size of Ag-NPs measured using FETEM image was 4.74 nm spherical in shape. The C. pentandra/Ag-NPs was easily separated after application, and could control the release of Ag-NPs to the environment due to its strong attachment in C. pentandra fiber. The C. pentandra/Ag-NPs exposed good qualitative and quantitative antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29212), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922) and Proteus vulgaris (ATCC 33420). The dye catalytic properties of C. pentandra/Ag-NPs revealed the dye reduction time in which it was completed within 4 min for 20 mg/L rhodamine B and 20 min for 20 mg/L methylene blue dye, respectively. Based on the results, it is evident that C. pentandra/Ag-NPs are potentially promising to be applied in wound healing, textile, wastewater treatment, food packaging, labeling and biomedical fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) are increasingly being studied for potential anticancer application to circumvent off-target cytotoxicity and other side effects from conventional chemotherapy. In this study, four different weight% of Punica granatum fruit peel extract were used as green stabilizers to synthesize IONPs followed by a series of characterization experiments and in vitro anticancer evaluation. Results revealed that all synthesized IONPs have high degree of crystallinity and purity. The optimum saturation magnetization, and hydrodynamic size were found to be ∼69 emu.g−1, and 26.52 nm, respectively. Morphological studies demonstrated that adding peel extract decreased size of NPs with the average particle size below 11 nm. Cytotoxicity assay showed that the IONPs were not reactive (IC 50 > 250 μg/ml) against colon (HCT116), breast (MCF7), cervical (HeLa) and lung (A549) cancer cell lines and two normal cell lines derived from human colon and kidney (CCD112 and HEK293). Specifically, IONPs with 2 and 4 wt% of peel extract displayed potent anticancer activities (IC 50 of 197.46 and 85.06 μg/ml respectively) against nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cell line, HONE1. Overall, this study shows the characterization of green synthesized IONPs and its potential use as anticancer therapeutic agents against NPC cells. • Punica Granatum fruit peel extract as a reducing agent to synthesize iron oxide nanoparticles. • Physicochemical analysis of the iron oxide nanoparticles and the extract. • Cytotoxic effects of the iron oxide nanoparticles and the extract on HCT116, HONE1, CCD112, and HEK293 cell line. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Superparamagnetic magnetite nanocomposites (Fe 3 O 4 -NCs) were successfully synthesized, which comprised of montmorillonite (MMT) as matrix support, Kappaphycus alvarezii (SW) as bio-stabilizer and Fe 3 O 4 as filler in the composites to form MMT/SW/Fe 3 O 4 -NCs. Nanocomposite with 0.5 g Fe 3 O 4 (MMT/SW/0.5Fe 3 O 4) was selected for anticancer activity study because it revealed high crystallinity, particle size of 7.2 ± 1.7 nm with majority of spherical shape, and M s = 5.85 emu/g with negligible coercivity. Drug loading and release studies were carried out using protocatechuic acid (PCA) as the model for anticancer drug, which showed 19% and 87% of PCA release in pH 7.4 and 4.8, respectively. Monolayer anticancer assay showed that PCA-loaded MMT/SW/Fe 3 O 4 (MMT/SW/Fe 3 O 4 -PCA) had selectivity towards HCT116 (colorectal cancer cell line). Although MMT/SW/Fe 3 O 4 -PCA (0.64 mg/mL) showed higher IC 50 than PCA (0.148 mg/mL) and MMT/SW/Fe 3 O 4 (0.306 mg/mL, MMT/SW/Fe 3 O 4 -PCA showed more effective killing towards tumour spheroid model generated from HCT116. The IC 50 for MMT/SW/Fe 3 O 4 -PCA, MMT/SW/Fe 3 O 4 and PCA were 0.132, 0.23 and 0.55 mg/mL, respectively. This suggests the improved penetration efficiency and drug release of MMT/SW/Fe 3 O 4 -PCA towards HCT116 spheroids. Moreover, concentration that lower than 2 mg/mL MMT/SW/Fe 3 O 4 -PCA did not result any hemolysis in human blood, which suggests them to be ideal for intravenous injection. This study highlights the potential of MMT/SW/Fe 3 O 4 -NCs as drug delivery agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a comparative study of effect using honey on copper nanoparticles (Cu-NPs) via simple, environmentally friendly process and inexpensive route was reported. Honey and ascorbic acid act as stabilizing and reducing agents with the assistance of sonochemical method. The products were characterized using UV–visible (UV–vis) spectroscopy, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM), Field-Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The reddish brown colour demonstrated the formation of Cu-NPs and UV–visible proved the plasmon resonance of Cu-NPs. XRD also confirmed a highly pure Cu-NPs obtained with absence of copper oxide in which the structure is crystalline. The spherical size of the Cu-NPs was acquire in the presence of honey which is 3.68 ± 0.78 nm with narrow particle distribution. The antibacterial activity was seen against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria which are Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) and Escherichia coli (E. coli). At higher concentration of Cu-NPs, they were more effective in killing both bacteria. The Cu-NPs without and with honey exhibited toxicities toward normal and cancerous cells. However, Cu-NPs without honey showed more potent killing activity against normal and cancer cells. Unlabelled Image • Honey as capping and reducing agent for Cu-NPs • Ultrasonic irradiation assistance reduced the time of reaction. • Cu-NPs show potential antibacterial against gram positive and negative bacteria. • Cytotoxic of Cu-NPs toward CCD 112 and HCT 116 are reported in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discovery of a potent drug nanocarrier is crucial for cancer therapy in which drugs often face challenges in penetrating efficiently into solid tumours. Here, biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using a waste material, Garcinia mangostana (GM) fruit peel extract is demonstrated. The best condition for AgNPs synthesis was with 0.5 g of peel extract, 7.5 mM silver nitrate at 45 °C, ~pH 4 for 16 h. The synthesized AgNPs were spherical and 32.7 ± 5.7 nm in size. To test its efficiency to be used as drug carrier, plant-based drug, protocatechuic acid (PCA) was used as a test drug. AgNPs loaded with PCA (AgPCA) resulted in 80% of inhibition at 15.6 µg/mL as compared to AgNPs which only killed 5% of HCT116 colorectal cells at same concentration. The IC50 of AgNPs and AgPCA for HCT116 were 40.2 and 10.7 µg/mL, respectively. At 15.6 µg/mL, AgPCA was not toxic to the tested colon normal cells, CCD112. Ag-based drug carrier could also potentially reduce the toxicity of loaded drug as the IC50 of PCA alone (148.1 µg/mL) was higher than IC50 of AgPCA (10.7 µg/mL) against HCT116. Further, 24-h treatment of 15.6 µg/mL AgPCA resulted in loss of membrane potential in the mitochondria of HCT116 cells and increased level of reaction oxygen species (ROS). These could be the cellular killing mechanisms of AgPCA. Collectively, our findings show the synergistic anticancer activity of AgNPs and PCA, and its potential to be used as a potent anticancer drug nanocarrier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO‐NPs) are synthesized and combined with chitosan (Cs) to create Cs/ZnO‐NPs nanomicelles, aiming to investigate their potential as a novel cancer treatment. The ZnO‐NPs are produced through a sintering process at temperatures ranging from 300 to 700 °C. The most effective nanoparticles are obtained at 600 °C, as determined by X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses, which confirmed their crystallinity and purity. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) are employed to characterize the size and shape of the nanoparticles, revealing predominantly spherical and hexagonal structures with stable dimensions. The cytotoxic effects of the Cs/ZnO‐NPs are evaluated against various cancer cell types. The results show that at a concentration of 125 µg mL−1, the Cs/ZnO‐NPs demonstrate significantly higher cancer cell toxicity compared to ZnO‐NPs alone, while remaining non‐toxic to normal cells. This indicates that Cs/ZnO‐NPs have a superior ability to selectively target cancer cells. These findings suggest that Cs/ZnO‐NPs nanomicelles hold promise as an effective and safe nanotherapeutic approach in the realm of cancer treatment, meriting further exploration for clinical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles is desirable practice. It is not only the required technique for industrial and biomedical purposes but also a promising research area. The aim of this study was to synthesize green curcumin silver nanoparticles (C-Ag NPs). The synthesis of C-Ag NPs was achieved by reduction of the silver nitrate (AgNO3) in an alkaline medium. The characterizations of the prepared samples were conducted by ultraviolet visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED) and zeta potential (ZP) analyses. The formation of C-Ag NPs was evaluated by the dark color of the colloidal solutions and UV-vis spectra, with 445 nm as the maximum. The size of the crystalline nanoparticles, recorded as 12.6 ± 3.8nm, was confirmed by HRTEM, while the face-centered cubic (fcc) crystallographic structure was confirmed by PXRD and SAED. It is assumed that green synthesized curcumin silver nanoparticles (C-Ag NPs) can be efficiently utilized as a strong antimicrobial substance for food and meat preservation due to their homogeneous nature and small size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs) are biosynthesized from tetrachloroaurate (AuCl4−) aqueous solution through a simple and ecofriendly route using water extract of black Camellia sinensis leaf (C. sinensis L.) which acted as a reductant and stabilizer simultaneously. The prepared gold nanoparticles are characterized using UV-visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Also, determination of the accurate predictor model for chemical reactions is particularly important because of high cost of the chemical materials and measurement devices. While the artificial neural networks (ANNs) are one of the appropriate tools to forecast any phenomena, due to the low number of data set related to chemical experimental was caused to provide appropriate model is a time-consuming iterative process. With the aim to improve the accuracy of the ANN model and overcome the local convergence of this problem, a global search technique, biogeography-based optimization (BBO) method which integrated by chaotic map is employed. The improved model showed minimum mean squared error (MSE) of 0.0134 and maximum coefficient of determination (R2) equal to 0.9822 compared with several other famous ANN training algorithm, utilizing output experimental data obtained from biosynthesis proceeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbonyl iron (CI) particles are widely used in magnetorheological (MR) fluids due to their excellent magnetic properties, i.e., high saturation magnetization and low coercivity. However, pristine CI-based MR fluids have major shortcomings, which restrict their applications: abrasion of device surfaces during operation, redispersion difficulties after caking, iron oxidation, and severe sedimentation of CI particles due to higher density compared to the carrier liquid. As a remedy, the CI particles were coated with Ag shell by green-assisted method and stabilized with honey. The CI and CI-Ag particles were separately dispersed in Polyalphaolefin (PAO) oil, and the subsequent rheological effects were evaluated. Although the MR effects, e.g., yield stress and shear viscosity of CI-Ag-based MR fluids, varied slightly compared to the original one, the dispersion qualities, e.g., sedimentation stability, were remarkably improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a powder mixture of Zn, Fe 2 O 3 and NiO was used to produce different compositions of Ni 1− x Zn x Fe 2 O 4 ( x =0.36, 0.5 and 0.64) nanopowders. High-energy ball milling with a subsequent heat treatment method was carried out. The XRD results indicated that for the content of Zn, x =0.64 a single phase of Ni–Zn ferrite was produced after 30 h milling while for the contents of Zn, x =0.36 and 0.5, the desired ferrite was formed after sintering the 30 h-milled powders at 500 °C. The average crystallite size decreased with increase in the Zn content. A DC electrical resistivity of the Ni–Zn ferrite, however, decreased with increase in the Zn content, its value was much higher than those samples prepared by the conventional ceramic route by using ZnO instead of Zn. This is attributed to smaller grains size which were obtained by using Zn. The FT-IR results suggested two absorption bands for octahedral and tetrahedral sites in the range of 350–700 cm −1 . The VSM results revealed that by increasing the Zn content from 0.36 to 0.5, a saturation magnetization reached its maximum value; afterwards, a decrease was observed for Zn with x =0.64. Finally, magnetic permeability and dielectric permittivity were studied by using vector network analyzer to explore microwave-absorbing properties in X-band frequency. The minimum reflection loss value obtained for Ni 0.5 Zn 0.5 Fe 2 O 4 samples, about −34 dB at 9.7 GHz, making them the best candidates for high frequency applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Broiler meat can provide an appropriate environment for the microbial intensification, resulting in the lipid and protein oxidation and physico-chemical degradation. The utilisation of the anti-oxidants prevents meat degradation and human health challenges by preventing meat physico-chemical characteristics. Pullulan active packaging incorporated with green silver nanoparticles, as anti-oxidants, has not been reported in broiler meat preservation. Therefore, the impact of pullulan active packaging, incorporated with curcumin and pullulan mediated silver nanoparticles (C-AgNPs, P-AgNPs) on broiler meat was determined in the current study for 14 days of refrigerated storage at 4 ± 1 °C. A total of 120 broiler birds were reared for clean meat production and divided into 4 treatment groups (PF-CTRL, PF-C-AgNPs, PF-P-AgNPs, PF-M-AgNPs). Pullulan active packaging maintained meat textural attributes and pigment stability and breast muscle pH (6.11). Broiler meat treated with pullulan active packaging incorporated with curcumin arbitrated AgNPs (PF-C-AgNPs) indicated significantly higher oxidative stability (p =.000), water holding capacity (p =.002), expressible fluids (p =.000), and shear force values (p =.000) along with significantly lower cooking losses (p =.000), pH (p =.000), and shear force energy (p =.000) as compared to the control (CTRL) and other treatment groups. Broiler breast meat samples treated with pullulan active packaging expressed a "lighter" appearance (53.61 ± 3.64) during the refrigerated storage of 14 days. Moreover, significant differences were recorded in the oxidative stability/MDA (mg/kg) concentrations amongst the controlled and the treated groups on day 7th (p =.000) and day 14th (p =.000) of refrigerated storage. The current study confirms that the pullulan active packaging, incorporated with curcumin arbitrated silver nanoparticles (PF-C-AgNPs) followed by pullulan active meat packaging incorporated with pullulan mediated silver nanoparticles (PF-P-AgNPs) maintained the textural and physico-chemical meat attributes along with minimal oxidative rancidity in 14 days of storage. It is concluded that PF-C-AgNPs and PF-P-AgNPs can be a safer antioxidant alternate to preserve broiler meat quality and oxidative stability with a prolonged shelf life. Pullulan active meat packaging, incorporated with C-AgNPs and P-AgNPs, should be considered as green and bio-degradable substitution of the hazardous synthetic antioxidant packaging. Pullulan active meat packaging (PF-C-AgNPs, PF-P-AgNPs) is able to maintain the textural characteristics, compositional integrity, and physico-chemical attributes of broiler meat. Broiler meat treated with PF-C-AgNPs and PF-P-AgNPs reflects better oxidative stability with prolonged shelf life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Functional polymeric biomaterials (FPBMs) with bioactive characteristics obtained by radiation-induced graft copolymerisation (RIGC) have been subjected to intensive research and developed into many commercial products. Various studies have reported the development of a variety of radiation-grafted FPBMs. However, no reports dealing with the quantitative evaluations of these studies from a global bibliographic perspective have been published. Such bibliographic analysis can provide information to overcome the limitations of the databases and identify the main research trends, together with challenges and future directions. This review aims to provide an unprecedented bibliometric analysis of the published literature on the use of RIGC for the preparation of FPBMs and their applications in medical, biomedical, biotechnological, and health care fields. A total of 235 publications obtained from the Web of Science (WoS) in the period of 1985–2021 were retrieved, screened, and evaluated. The records were used to manifest the contributions to each field and underline not only the top authors, journals, citations, years of publication, and countries but also to highlight the core research topics and the hubs for research excellence on these materials. The obtained data overviews are likely to provide guides to early-career scientists and their research institutions and promote the development of new, timely needed radiation-grafted FPBMs, in addition to extending their applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research was to apply the combination of the particle swarm optimization method and artificial neural network training with the aim of building a quantitative model to forecast the size of copper nanoparticles (Cu-NPs) prepared in sodium alginate. Sodium alginate, sodium hydroxide, copper sulfate, hydrazinium hydroxide, and ascorbic acid were used as stabilizer, pH moderator, copper precursor, reducing agent, and antioxidant, respectively. The results showed that the different sizes of Cu-NPs were obtained by changing these functions. Meaning that by increasing the amount of sodium alginate and or increase the volume of hydrazine hydrate, particle sizes of Cu-NPs were reduced. Other variables had the opposite effects due to the increase of the size of the Cu-NPs. The prediction results were remarkably in agreement with the experimental data with a correlation coefficient of 0.99 and a mean square error of 0.0058. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The current study investigated the anticancer properties of gold nanoparticles (SG-stabilized AuNPs) synthesized using water extracts of the brown seaweed Sargassum glaucescens (SG). SG-stabilized AuNPs were characterized by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, transmission and scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. The SG-stabilized AuNPs were stable and small at 3.65 ± 1.69 nm in size. The in vitro anticancer effect of SG-stabilized AuNPs was determined on cervical (HeLa), liver (HepG2), breast (MDA-MB-231) and leukemia (CEM-ss) cell lines using fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry, caspase activity determination, and MTT assays. After 72 h treatment, SG-stabilized AuNPs was shown to be significant (p < 0.05) cytotoxic to the cancer cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The IC50 values of SG-stabilized AuNPs on the HeLa, HepG2, CEM-ss, MDA-MB-231 cell lines were 4.75 ± 1.23, 7.14 ± 1.45, 10.32 ± 1.5, and 11.82 ± 0.9 ±g/mL, respectively. On the other hand, SG-stabilized AuNPs showed no cytotoxic effect towards the normal human mammary epithelial cells (MCF-10A). SG-stabilized AuNPs significantly (p < 0.05) arrest HeLa cell cycle at G2/M phase and significantly (p < 0.05) activated caspases-3 and -9 activities. The anticancer effect of SG-stabilized AuNPs is via the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. The study showed that SG-stabilized AuNPs is a good candidate to be developed into a chemotherapeutic compound for the treatment of cancers especially cervical cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Green approach in synthesizing metal nanoparticles has gain new interest from the researchers as metal nanoparticles were widely applied in medical equipment and household products. The use of plants in the synthesis of nanoparticles emerges as a cost effective and eco-friendly approach. A green synthetic route for the production of stable silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) by using aqueous silver nitrate as metal precursor and Artocarpus elasticus stem bark extract act both as reductant and stabilizer is being reported for the first time. Results: The resultant Ag-NPs were characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy, powder X-Ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier-transform infra-red (FT-IR). The morphological study by TEM and SEM shows resultant Ag-NPs in spherical form with an average size of 5.81 ± 3.80, 6.95 ± 5.50, 12.39 ± 9.51, and 19.74 ± 9.70 nm at 3, 6, 24, and 48 h. Powder X-ray diffraction showed that the particles are crystalline in nature, with a face-centered cubic structure. The FT-IR spectrum shows prominent peaks appeared corresponds to different functional groups involved in synthesizing Ag-NPs. Conclusions: Ag-NPs were synthesized using a simple and biosynthetic method by using methanolic extract of A. elasticus under room temperature, at different reaction time. The diameters of the biosynthesis Ag-NPs depended on the time of reaction. Thus, with the increase of reaction time in the room temperature the size of Ag-NPs increases. From the results obtained in this effort, one can affirm that A. elasticus can play an important role in the bioreduction and stabilization of silver ions to Ag-NPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims is to investigate the influence of different concentrations of Kappaphycus alvarezii ( K. alvarezii) for the synthesis of Cu@CuO core-shell nanoparticles (NPs) in aqueous solution. The core-shell NPs were prepared by a chemical reduction method using K. alvarezii, CuSO·5HO, NaOH, ascorbic acid, hydrazinium hydroxide, as stabilizer, copper precursor, pH moderator, antioxidant and reducing agent under 120 °C temperature, respectively. Formation of Cu@CuO-NPs was determined by UV-Vis spectroscopy where surface plasmon absorption maxima can be observed at 390-590 nm. The synthesized core-shell NPs were also characterized by X-ray diffraction. Moreover, the morphology and structure of the K. alvarezii/Cu@CuO-NPs were investigated by TEM, FESEM and EDXRF. The Fourier transform infrared spectrum suggested the complexation present between K. alvarezii and Cu@CuO-NPs. The study clearly showed that using various amounts of K. alvarezii leads to produce different ratios and sizes of Cu@CuO NPs. The size of the Cu@CuO-NPs decreased as the amount of K. alvarezii was increased. The ratio of Cu@CuO increases with the increasing concentration of K. alvarezii until 0.2 wt%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The composite materials based on rice straw (RS) fiber and polycaprolactone (PCL) were prepared by a solution-casting method and characterized. The composites were prepared using different fiber loadings (1.0, 3.0, 5.0, and 7.0 wt%). The prepared composites (Cs) were characterized by using powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electro-optical microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and thermogravimetric analysis, and mechanical properties were investigated. The XRD results showed that the intensity of the peaks decreased with the increase of RS content from 1.0 to 7.0 wt% in comparison with PCL peaks. SEM micrographs indicated poor adhesion between RS and PCL matrices, and FT-IR spectroscopy showed that, with the increase of loading percentages of RS, the intensity of the peaks is decreased from 1.0 to 7.0 wt%, and the interaction between RS and PCL was a physical interaction. Thermal stability was decreased with increasing the RS contents. Tensile measurement showed an increase in tensile modulus from 1.0 to 7.0 wt% loading of RS into the PCL, but a decrease in tensile strength and elongation at the break as the RS contents are increased, although there is a modest increase in tensile strength of the Cs material with 3.0 wt% loading of RS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial neural networks (ANNs) are computational tools that have found comprehensive utilization in solving many complex real world problems. Major benefits in using ANNs are their remarkable information-processing characteristics pertinent mainly to high parallelism, nonlinearity, fault and noise tolerance, and learning and generalization capabilities. An ANN approach is used to model the size of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) in montmorillonite/chitosan bionanocomposites layers as a function of the silver nitrate concentration, reaction of temperature, chitosan percentage, and d-spacing of clay layers. The best ANN model is found and this final model is capable of predicting the size of nanosilver for a wide range of conditions with a mean absolute error of less than 0.004 and a regression error of about 1. Results obtained showed good ability predictive of neural network model for the prediction of the size of Ag-NPs in chemical reduction methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of OH concentration on the size of Fe3O4 nanoparticles (Fe3O4-NPs). Fe3O4-NPs with different cubic nanocrystal structure and percentage Fe3O4 content were successfully prepared, by use of the chemical co-precipitation method, on the exterior surface of talc, as solid substrate, by an environmentally friendly process. Ferric chloride, ferrous chloride, and sodium hydroxide were used as iron oxide precursors and reducing agent. The results showed that the morphology of the Fe3O4-NPs can be adjusted by changing the reaction conditions, for example volume of reducing agent and concentration of iron salts. Different size, dispersal, and the magnetic properties were obtained by changing the concentration of iron salts and NaOH. The products were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The reaction was conducted in a non-oxidizing, oxygen-free environment. Because the interlamellar spacing of the talc was almost unchanged (ds = 0.94-0.87 nm), the Fe3O4-NPs were formed on the exterior surface of the talc. The average diameter of the Fe3O4-NCs could be varied from 6.62-8.13 nm in adjusting the concentration of NaOH. The size of the nanoparticles decreased as the amount of reducing agent was increased. These talc-Fe3O4nanocomposites (talc-Fe3O4-NCs) may have potential applications in the chemical and biological industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]