Addition Of AgNPs Research Articles

Impact of Silver Nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) as a Dietary Supplement on Growth Performance, Carcass Traits, Blood Metabolites, Digestive Enzymes, and Cecal Microbiota of Growing Rabbits

Abstract The present study investigated the impact of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) on growth performance, carcass traits, liver and kidney functions, immunity and antioxidant indicators, digestive enzymes, and cecum bacteriology of growing rabbits. One hundred 5-week-old New Zealand White (NZW) male rabbits were randomly divided into 5 equal groups and fed for 8 weeks on the basal diet only or on the basal diet supplemented with different levels of Ag-NPs (0.25, 0.50, 0.75, or 1.00 mg/kg diet). Animals in each group were randomly distributed in 10 cages (replicates), with two rabbits each. Different dietary concentrations of Ag-NPs significantly increased live body weight (LBW) and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Also, body weight gain (BWG) increased dramatically during all experimental periods except 11–13 weeks of age. Levels of 0.25 and 1 mg of Ag-NPs/kg diet showed the highest increase in LBW, BWG, and FCR. All studied carcass traits, except liver %, were not affected by Ag-NPs levels. Rabbits fed diet supplemented with 1 mg Ag-NPs had the highest liver %. Serum total protein, albumin, and globulin levels were increased (P<0.05) in groups treated with 0.25 and 0.75 mg Ag-NPs. In contrast, serum values of aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT), urea and creatinine were significantly reduced with the supplementation of Ag-NPs up to 0.75 mg/kg diet. The immunoglobulins M, G, and A (IgM, IgG, and IgA), complement 3 (C3) and lysozyme activity were improved with the inclusion of nano-silver in the rabbit feeds, particularly at the level of 0.25 mg Ag-NPs/kg feed. The inclusion of Ag-NPs in rabbit diets at different concentrations increased the total antioxidant capacity and the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase. Growing rabbits fed on diets supplemented with Ag-NPs had higher levels of digestive enzymes than the control group. The addition of Ag-NPs reduced the load of E. coli, Salmonella spp. and coliform in the rabbit cecum. Overall, the inclusion of 0.25–1 mg Ag-NPs/kg to NZW rabbit diets has shown beneficial effects on health and performance.

Design of ternary GO@AgNPs@g-C3N4 membranes for efficient dye removals in integrated photocatalysis-filtration reactors

Photocatalytic composite membranes (PCMs), which integrate the high degradation efficiency of photocatalysts and the physical separation properties of membranes, have emerged as a promising technology for wastewater treatment. Herein, the ternary GO@AgNPs@g-C3N4 PCM was fabricated through a facile vacuum-filtration assembly of graphene oxide (GO), graphitic phase carbon nitride (g-C3N4), and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) onto commercial mixed cellulose ester (MCE) substrates. The effects of g-C3N4 synthesized from different precursors and various metal nanoparticles on the performance of PCM were systematically investigated. Interestingly, results show the addition of AgNPs not only significantly improves the photocatalytic performance of PCMs but also enhances the mechanical adhesion between the active layer and the MCE substrate. The resultant PCMs exhibit outstanding photocatalytic performance, maintaining dye removal above 89% even after 25 consecutive cycles. Moreover, dye degradation pathways over the PCMs were investigated through free radical scavenging experiments and electron spin resonance characterizations. This simple assembly method results in a 3–12 times increase in flux compared to the layer-by-layer assembly method. Accordingly, our designed PCMs exhibit significant potential for wastewater treatment and water purification applications.

Preparation of chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol antibacterial indicator composite film loaded with AgNPs and purple sweet potato anthocyanins and its application in strawberry preservation

This study incorporated purple sweet potato anthocyanin (PSPA) and silver-nanoparticles (AgNPs) into the chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol film matrix (PVA/CS) to successfully prepare a composite film, which effectively inhibited bacterial growth and indicated product freshness. The addition of AgNPs and PSPA led to a dense structure of the film, which effectively enhanced its physical properties, barrier properties and functional properties. The incorporation of PSPA made the composite film highly pH-sensitive, which exhibited distinct color changes in varying pH solutions. The PVA/CS-AgNPs-PSPA10 composite film with PSPA and AgNPs resulted the shelf life of strawberries to 13 days at 4 °C, which effectively reduced strawberry breathing during storage. Additionally, such composite film changed color from purple to yellow-purple, indicating the deterioration of strawberries. It also showed an antibacterial indication through its excellent antibacterial property and freshness indication performance, which demonstrated its significance in developing antibacterial indicator composite packaging materials for fruits and vegetables preservation.

Visible-light-driven photocatalytic oxidation of furfural to furoic acid over Ag/g-C3N4

Furoic acid (FA) is a useful bio-chemicals, which can be used in the production of pharmaceuticals, food additives, flavors, industrial chemicals, biofuels, etc. Oxidation of furfural to FA has been carried out by a thermal catalytic method, but photocatalytic oxidation protocol has not been reported yet. Here, g-C3N4-supported Ag nanoparticles (Ag NPs) catalysts with different Ag loading were synthesized and used for the photocatalytic oxidation of furfural to FA under visible light irradiation. The physicochemical and photoelectrochemical properties of the catalysts were systematically investigated by XRD, TEM, XPS, UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV–Vis DRS), photoluminescence, etc. Compared with the pristine g-C3N4, Ag-CN(N2 + H2) was found to have better photocatalytic performances in the aerobic oxidation of furfural under visible light irradiation, and the conversion can reach 82 % with a FA yield of 30 %. Importantly, the loading of Ag NPs has a significant effect on the photoelectrochemical properties. Specifically, 0.5 % Ag NPs loading maximized the photocurrent response, indicating that the loading of Ag NPs enhances charge separation and migration under visible light excitation. The introduction of Ag NPs also led to a significant decrease in electrochemical impedance, which promoted the rate of electron transfer at the interface, further confirming the improved photocatalytic efficiency. The addition of Ag NPs broadens the solar absorption and promotes the separation/transport of photo-generated carriers to form “hot electrons”, and provides the active species for furfural oxidation. The reasonable reaction mechanism of the photocatalytic oxidation of furfural to FA was elucidated. This work offers a novel method for the oxidation of furfural to FA in a mild and green way.

Composite Nanoarchitectonics of Electrospun Piezoelectric PVDF/AgNPs for Biomedical Applications, Including Breast Cancer Treatment.

This study focused on preparing composite nanomats by incorporating silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) nanofibers through the electrospinning process. A short review of piezoelectric PVDF-related research is presented. PVDF is known for its biocompatibility and piezoelectric properties. Since electrical signals in biological tissues have been shown to be relevant for therapeutic applications, the influence of the addition of AgNPs to PVDF on its piezoelectricity is studied, due to the ability of AgNPs to increase the piezoelectric signal, along with providing antibacterial properties. The prepared samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. In addition, the biological activity of composites was examined using a cytotoxicity assay and an assessment of the antibacterial activity. The obtained results show that the incorporation of AgNPs into PVDF nanofibers further enhances the piezoelectricity (crystalline β-phase fraction), already improved by the electrospinning process, compared to solution-casted samples, but only with a AgNPs/PVDF concentration of up to 0.3%; a further increase in the nanoparticles led to a β-phase reduction. The cytotoxicity assay showed a promising effect of PVDF/AgNPs nanofibers on the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line, following the non-toxicity displayed in regard to the healthy MRC-5 cell line. The antibacterial effect of PVDF/AgNPs nanofibers showed promising antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, as a result of the Ag content. The anticancer activity, combined with the electrical properties of nanofibers, presents new possibilities for smart, multifunctional materials for cancer treatment development.

Physicochemical characteristics of Pangasius sp. skin-gelatin-based-edible film enriched with silver nanoparticles

Background: Edible films intended for food packaging have been produced from hydrocolloids, lipids, resins, and composites, including gelatin. Gelatin is known to have a good filming ability and has been suggested as an alternative to non-biodegradable plastics. Naturally active compounds incorporated into film packaging may not only protect the food product from oxidation and microbial contamination, but they may also alter the physicochemical properties of the film. Silver nanoparticles have been used in food packaging as active agents due to their antibacterial and antifungal properties. The addition may affect the characteristics of the packaging. Therefore, this study aims to determine the effect of the addition of silver nanoparticles on the physicochemical characteristics of edible film from Pangasius sp. skin gelatin. Methods: Mangrove extract of Bruguiera gymnorrhiza was used to synthesize silver into nanoparticle size. In this study, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with different concentrations (0, 2, 4 and 8%) were added into gelatin-based edible film. The edible films produced were observed for their physicochemical characteristics, including thickness, tensile strength, elongation, water vapour transmission, moisture content, pH, and colour. Results: AgNPs affected the colour of the fish-gelatin-based edible film, as an increased concentration of AgNPs resulted in a darker film. Nevertheless, the addition of AgNPs showed no significant effect on the thickness (145–216 µm), tensile strength (14.58–19.72 MPa), elongation (21.86–54.19%), water vapour transmission (30.91–42.55 g/m2/day), moisture content (9.57–11.16%) or pH (5.92–6.01) of the fish-gelatin-based edible film. Conclusions: The addition of AgNPs has no significant effect on gelatin-based edible film physicochemical properties except colour. Therefore, the incorporated edible film has the potential to be developed further.

Maize bran arabinoxylans mediated green synthesis of silver nanoparticles and their incorporation in gelatin-based packaging film

Current research was aimed to extract arabinoxylans (AXs) from maize bran and synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) through maize bran arabinoxylans (MBAXs), their characterization, and in-vitro efficacy against S. aureus, E.coli, and K. pneumoniae. Then, AgNPs were loaded in gelatin-based biofilm in different concentrations (0 %, 0.5 %, 1 %, and 1.5 %). The results showed that MBAXs contained arabinose (25.83 %), and xylose (32.12 %) in higher proportions. XRD spectra of MBAXs were amorphous, however, AgNPs capped with MBAXs showed crystalline spectra. SEM micrographs showed the spherical and irregular structure of AgNPs. Further, AgNPs showed an inhibition zone in the range of 7.38–13.78 mm, 11.45–19.14 mm, and 7.00–14.66 mm against E. coli, S. aureus, and K. pneumoniae respectively. FTIR spectra of biofilm showed stretchings at 3270, 2935, 1625, 1542, and 1030 cm−1 which showed the presence of –OH, -CH, and N-H groups of gelatin. An increase in AgNPs concentration, imparted minor changes in SEM micrographs on the film surface. Further, gelatin biofilm showed that the addition of AgNPs didn’t affect the thickness of biofilms but affected the mechanical properties after exceeding 0.5 %. The antimicrobial activity of the biofilm assessed on different foodborne pathogens showed a definite inhibition zone, which showed that packaging films loaded with AgNPs are effective in enhancing the shelf life of food commodities from microbial spoilage. Conclusively, current research showed that MBAXs are suitable for synthesizing AgNPs with definite antimicrobial activity and their incorporation in gelatin biofilm in a concentration-dependent manner could be a sustainable way to the development of sustainable packaging.

Dual-drive energy conversion plasmonic Ag@MXene thermal management textiles inspired by bearing structure

Multifunctional wearable textiles can simulate human perception and convert it into visual data, which has advanced application prospects. As an important branch, thermal management wearable textiles have been widely concerned in the aspects of thermal insulation, flame retardant, photothermal anti-icing, electrothermal deicing and even water evaporation. Here, inspired by the bearing structure, we simply soaked the PET textile in Ag@MXene hybrid solution several times to form a Ag@MXene conductive network with Ag NPs as the connection point on the textile fiber, and finally carry out hydrophobic modification. Based on plasma effect, the synergistic action of Ag NPs and MXene enhances the photothermal response of the material. In addition, the addition of Ag NPs effectively reduces the stacking between MXene layers and forms a Ag@MXene conductive network with Ag NPs as the connection point on the textile fibers. The stable temperature range of PDMS/Ag@MXene PET textile is 70–80 °C under one solar illumination intensity, and the stable temperature of PDMS/Ag@MXene PET textile can reach 117 °C at a constant voltage of 3 V. Based on the excellent thermal effect, this textile achieves photothermal anti-icing, electric thermal de-icing, keeping warm and removing sweat. The textile has a water evaporation efficiency of about 0.58 g h−1, which can achieve excellent anti-sweat function. Finally, the textile also achieved rapid flame retardant within 7 s. PDMS/Ag@MXene PET textile processes excellent photothermal and electrothermal conversion ability, acid/water stability and flame retardant ability, and has promising application prospects in thermal management textiles such as deicing and anti-icing, fire prevention, warmth and water evaporation.

Influence of Silver Nanoparticles on the Metabolites of Two Transgenic Soybean Varieties: An NMR-Based Metabolomics Approach.

This study investigated the effect of AgNPs and AgNO3, at concentrations equivalent, on the production of primary and secondary metabolites on transgenic soybean plants through an NMR-based metabolomics. The plants were cultivated in a germination chamber following three different treatments: T0 (addition of water), T1 (addition of AgNPs), and T2 (addition of AgNO3). Physiological characteristics, anatomical analyses through microscopic structures, and metabolic profile studies were carried out to establish the effect of abiotic stress on these parameters in soybean plants. Analysis of the 1H NMR spectra revealed the presence of amino acids, organic acids, sugars, and polyphenols. The metabolic profiles of plants with AgNP and AgNO3 were qualitatively similar to the metabolic profile of the control group, suggesting that the application of silver does not affect secondary metabolites. From the PCA, it was possible to differentiate the three treatments applied, mainly based on the content of fatty acids, pinitol, choline, and betaine.

Fabrication and Characterization of Silver Nanoparticle-Doped Chitosan/Carboxymethyl Cellulose Nanocomposites for Optoelectronic and Biological Applications.

The synthesis of nanoparticles using environmentally friendly methods for applications in fields such as food packaging and biomedicine has been gaining increasing attention. Organic-inorganic nanostructures offer opportunities to create innovative materials suitable for use in optoelectronics and biological applications. In this study, we focused on producing nanocomposite films by blending carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and chitosan (CS) polymers in equal proportions (50/50 wt %) and adding silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) through a solution casting process. Our objective was to examine how the introduction of Ag NPs influenced the structural, optical, mechanical, electrical, and antibacterial properties of the virgin CMC/CS composites. XRD patterns of the prepared samples indicated the presence of crystalline Ag phases within the CMC/CS blend. FT-IR spectroscopy showed the primary vibrational peaks associated with CMC and CS, which exhibited reduced intensity after the addition of Ag NPs. The UV absorption of the nanocomposites exhibited a gradual increase and a shift toward longer wavelengths. The electrical properties are enhanced with higher concentrations of Ag NPs. An increase in the content of Ag NPs resulted in a corresponding enhancement of antibacterial activity against both Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The CMC/CS-Ag-doped films demonstrated significant enhancements in Young's modulus (Y), tensile stress (σt), and elongation at break (εB). These findings suggest that these nanocomposite films hold promise for potential applications in optoelectronics and biological fields.

Development of a multifunctional nano-hydroxyapatite platform (nHEA) for advanced treatment of severely infected full-thickness skin wounds

The treatment of full-thickness skin injuries complicated by severe infection is hampered by the lack of comprehensive solutions that can regulate the various stages of wound healing. Consequently, there is an urgent need for a multifunctional dressing capable of multi-level regulation. In this study, we propose a novel solution by covalently integrating ε-poly-l-lysine-grafted gallic acid (EG) and in situ bioreduced silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) onto nano-hydroxyapatite (nHAP), thereby developing a multi-layered, multifunctional nanoplatform (nHEA). Cell experiments have shown that, compared to nHAP and nHAP loaded only with EG (nHEG), the addition of AgNPs to nHEA confers excellent antibacterial properties while maintaining optimal biocompatibility. The incorporation of EG onto nHEG and nHEA imparts antioxidation, anti-inflammatory, and pro-angiogenic functions, and the release of Ca2+ and EG further enhances fibroblast migration and collagen secretion. In a rat model of full-thickness skin injury with severe infection, nHEA demonstrates remarkable antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, along with promoting collagen remodeling and regeneration. Together, both cell experiments and animal studies confirm the significant potential of this innovative multifunctional nanoplatform in the treatment of full-thickness skin injuries with severe infection. Statement of significanceTreating infected full-thickness skin injuries poses a longstanding challenge due to the lack of comprehensive solutions that can regulate different stages of wound healing. This study introduces a novel multifunctional nanoplatform, nHEA, developed by covalently integrating ε-poly-l-lysine grafted with gallic acid (EG) and in situ bioreduced AgNPs onto nano-hydroxyapatite (nHAP). Cell experiments reveal that the integration of AgNPs enhances nHEA's antibacterial performance while maintaining optimal biocompatibility. The inclusion of EG bestows antioxidant, inflammation-regulating, and angiogenetic properties upon nHEA, and the release of Ca2+ and EG stimulates the migration and collagen secretion of fibroblast cells. Consequently, nHEA exhibits superior antibacterial and inflammation-regulating efficacy, and stimulates collagen remodeling and regeneration in vivo, making it a promising treatment for severely infected skin injuries.

Adsorption and bacterial performance of Nd2O3 modified Ag nanoparticles with enhanced degradation of methylene blue

Our study focused on the optical behavior, methylene blue (MB) dye degradation potential, antibacterial performance, and silver and trioxide mineral interaction with different bacterial species. We found that the addition of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) to neodymium oxide (Nd2O3) resulted in a significant response, with an enlargement of the inhibition zone for bacterial species such as Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Specifically, the inhibition zone for S. aureus increased from 9.3 ± 0.5 mm for pure Nd2O3 to 16.7 ± 0.4 mm for the Ag/Nd2O3 nano-composite, while for E. coli, it increased from 8.8 ± 0.4 mm for Nd2O3 to 15.9 ± 0.3 mm for Ag/Nd2O3. Furthermore, the optical behavior of the composites showed a clear band-gap narrowing with the addition of Ag NPs, resulting in enhanced electronic localization. The direct and indirect transitions reduced from 6.7 to 6.1 eV and from 5.2 to 2.9 eV, respectively. Overall, these results suggest that the Ag/Nd2O3 nano-composite has potential applications in sensor industries and water treatment, thanks to its enhanced optical behavior, antibacterial performance, and efficient MB degradation capabilities. In terms of MB degradation, the Ag/Nd2O3 mixed system exhibited more efficient degradation compared to pure Nd2O3. After 150 min, the MB concentration in the mixed system decreased to almost half of its starting point, while pure Nd2O3 only reached 33%.

Evaluation of Cleaning Soiled Deposits and Crusts from Archaeological Glass Using Laser Treatment with Ag/Au Nanoparticles

The study aims to evaluate the effect of silver and gold nanoparticles during the laser cleaning process of glass artifacts. It is the first time that nanoparticles have been used to clean antique glass, as far as the authors are aware. In the context of this study, work was done on glass samples extracted from excavations that suffer from dense layers of corrosion products, soil deposits, brittle, easy to break, and cannot bear pressure. To characterize the investigated glass shards and assess the cleaning procedure, a variety of analytical techniques, including the transmission electron microscope (TEM), digital microscope, stereomicroscope, scanning electron microscope (SEM-EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and color change measurement, have been used. The XRD analysis revealed different minerals such as ferrosilite, hillebrandite, and jacobsite, in the black corrosion layer, and calcite, syngenite, and arcanite in the white crust layer. The results of the microscopic examination employed in the evaluation procedure demonstrated that using Ag NPs with laser perfectly removed the tough crust layers without scratching the surface. The cleaned surface became smooth, homogenous and more transparent. The elemental analysis results by (SEM-EDX) revealed a significant reduction in the proportion elements of the (Al, Fe, p, and Mg) in the corrosion layer and their loss in the cleaned areas. Measurement of color change indicated that laser-treated glass samples with the addition of Ag NPs gave higher (ΔE*), confirming the influential role of this method in cleaning archaeological glass. It was also observed that the effect of Ag NPs with Laser assistance decreases the required time for the cleaning process. Thus the heat generated by the laser-treated was reduced, so the laser-treated with Ag NPs is recommended for use in the archaeological glass cleaning process.

Enhancing Contaminant Removal in Sewage Treatment Plant Effluent with PES/Ag Membrane

In this study, a silver-infused membrane was fabricated using an ex-situ method that involved blending silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with Polyethersulfone (PES) as the base polymer in treating sewage treatment plant (STP) effluent. Three distinct membranes denoted as S1(Ag0), S2(Ag0.5) and S3(Ag2.0) were manufactured with varying weight percentages of polymer and silver (Ag) contents. The objective was to investigate the effect of the dosage of AgNPs on membrane characterization and performance, encompassing pure water flux filtration tests, organic rejection tests, and antibacterial properties. The results showed that all PES/Ag membranes demonstrated robust performance in removing total suspended solids (TSS), chemical oxygen demand (COD), apparent colour (Hazen unit), total dissolved solids (TDS), turbidity, conductivity, total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), and Escherichia coli (E. coli), complying to Class IIB (Recreational use with body contact) of the Interim National River Water Quality Standards (INWQS) for Malaysia ruled by the Department of Environment Malaysia (DOE). The results also highlighted that upon the addition of AgNPs, the E. coli removal of the membrane S3(Ag2.0) was further improved to 99.87%. The results have evidenced that the PES/Ag membranes could reject E. coli effectively, proving their value in treating bacteria-contaminated surface water. In conclusion, this study highlights the effectiveness of PES/Ag membranes as a viable solution for domestic sewage treatment, aligning with stringent water quality requirements.

Investigation of Ag nanoparticles decorated Ni-Al layered double hydroxide as a gas sensor

Chemiresistive gas sensors based on LDH structure were investigated for the detection of widely used volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including methanol, ethanol, and acetone at room temperature. In order to increase the surface active sites and subsequently improve the detection sensitivity of gas molecules, the use of Ag decoration method along with the creation of porosity on the surface of LDH structures were investigated. In this method, methanol solvent was used as a hole scavenger and UV radiation as a catalyst for binding Ag to the surface of LDH sheets. The microstructure and morphology of the composites were investigated by FESEM, HRTEM, EDS, EDS mapping, XRD, and MS analysis. The investigated parameters included relative humidity, calibration curve, repeatability, selectivity, and response/recovery times. According to the obtained results, the creations of surface corrosion by methanol and decorating the structure with Ag have both affected the sensitivity of the sensors. The pure Ni-Al LDH sensor has a response value of 6.8–250 ppm of ethanol. By increasing the specific surface area and creating LDH nanosheets, the response value can be increased up to 8.52. Also, the addition of Ag NP (Ni-Al LDH decorated with Ag NP) has increased the response up to 10.89. It was also observed that the response times in different modes have the least difference. At the end, the response mechanism was investigated based on the heterojunction theory.

Improving the optical, thermal, mechanical, electrical properties and antibacterial activity of PVA-chitosan by biosynthesized Ag nanoparticles: Eco-friendly nanocomposites for food packaging applications

In this study, nanocomposite films were produced by blending polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and chitosan (Cs) polymers with 70 % PVA and 30 % Cs, incorporating silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) via a solution-casting method. The research aims to investigate the impact of the biosynthesized Ag NPs by Chenopodium murale leaf extract on optical, morphological, mechanical, thermal, electrical, and antibacterial properties. XRD analysis showed a decrease in crystallinity degree with Ag NPs addition. TEM revealed Ag NPs in cubic and spherical shapes with an average size of 23.4 nm. SEM and AFM indicated surface morphology changes. FT-IR spectra showed interaction between Ag ions and the blend. The energy gap decreased with increasing Ag NPs concentration. TGA exhibited enhanced thermal stability. Mechanical properties improved significantly. AC electrical conductivity and dielectric parameters were studied. Antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria was observed. Overall, PVA/Cs-Ag NPs films show promise for food packaging and optoelectronic applications.

Silver‐doped alginate cryogels as new generation current collectors for lithium‐ion batteries: Structural and electrochemical analysis

AbstractThe development of next‐generation materials for essential components in lithium‐ion batteries, such as collectors, is crucial owing to considerations of performance, cost, and environmental impact. From this perspective, new‐generation material studies are being carried out to increase the performance of current collectors and reduce environmental damage. In this study, a novel biodegradable Ag nanoparticle‐doped calcium alginate cryogel was produced and used as the current collector for Li‐ion batteries to improve performance, reduce environmental damage, and develop new‐generation batteries. The synthesis of Ag NPs was achieved using an inexpensive and environmentally friendly chemical reduction method, followed by their incorporation into the gels. Freeze‐drying was employed to obtain cryogels without the inclusions on the current collector. Structural analysis of both the particles and gels was performed via XRD, SEM, EDS, and FTIR, DSC respectively. The results showed that the synthesized Ag NPs were spherical with an average diameter of 10 nm. The cryogels exhibited desirable chemical structures, as indicated by FTIR analysis. The addition of Ag NPs led to changes in peak positions and intensities, indicating crosslinking homogenization and increased hydrophobicity. Galvanostatic Charge/Discharge Analysis was conducted to evaluate the electrochemical performance of the cryogels as current collectors. The cryogels demonstrated balanced lithiation/delithiation behavior but had a limited operational duration, likely due to structural instability. Postmortem analysis conducted by FTIR and DSC analysis for disassembled cryogels showed the presence of lithium salts from the electrolyte in the structure, and the usage of a solid electrolyte was recommended to improve the system's performance.

Rocephin-graphene oxide-silver nanocomposites: A versatile platform for biomedical applications.

For many years, the synthesis of graphene oxide (GO) had involved exfoliating graphite flakes, and the methods applied were expensive and time-consuming. Thus, an attempt had been made to create an inventive, less expensive method for the synthesis of GO using unrefined, raw carbon-containing material. Modified Hummer's method was used to prepare GO from banana peel. In addition, the metallic silver nanocomposite was also synthesized along with laoding of drug Rocephin where they interact with each other through electrostatic hydrogen bond interaction. The degree of crystallinity and the crystallite size were through x-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and the crystallite size of AgNPs was found to be 40.40 nm. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis shows that the morphology of the GO gradually changes with the addition of AgNPs and Rocephin. A blue shift was seen in the absorbance maxima of the raw carbon upon the conjugation of Rocephin in UV analysis. The Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy were used to determine the chemical composition of the samples. Furthermore, a broad biological screening of the synthesized samples had been carried out following the total reducing power (TRP), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), antibacterial, antifungal, MTT (Cytotoxicity of biologically synthesized silver nanoparticles in MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells) cell viability, brine shrimp lethality, and hemolytic protocols. Significant results were obtained, and the Rocephin-GO-AgNPs had depicted promising activity as compared with their counterparts. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: The GO was prepared from the raw carbon extracted from banana peels and was used as a substrate for the synthesis Graphene oxide silver nanoparticles (GO-AgNPs) and Rocephin-loaded graphene oxide silver nanoparticles (Rocephin-GO-AgNPs) The structural and compositional analysis of the nanomaterial was carried out, and they were screened for several biomedical applications. The Rocephin-GO-AgNPs exhibit the highest activity as compared with their counterparts.

The Effects of Silver Nanoparticles on the Antimicrobial and Biodegradation of Cornstarch Bioplastic

The development of bioplastics is currently increasing, because bioplastics are an effort to reduce landfill waste. One of the bioplastics that has good degradation ability is cornstarch. The addition of nanoparticles was carried out to improve the properties of bioplastic packaging. One example of the application of nanotechnology in food packaging is silver nanoparticles (AgNP), known as antimicrobial substances. This research was conducted to determine the effect of adding AgNP (0%, 1%, and 2%) on the antimicrobial and biodegradation of cornstarch bioplastics. Bioplastics are made by casting method. AgNP was used from the synthesis of silver nitrate (AgNO3) and trisodium citrate dihydrate (C6H5Na3O7.2H2O) as a reducing agent and stabilizer by chemical reduction method, which was then analyzed by FTIR. The results obtained showed that cornstarch bioplastic AgNP 1% has the ability to estimate the fastest degradation time among other concentrations with an addition of 103 days. Cornstarch bioplastic AgNP 2% had the best ability to inhibit bacterial growth, with antibacterial inhibition zone diameters of 11.03 mm (Staphylococcus aureus) and 10.61 mm (Escherichia coli). However, AgNP could not inhibit the mold growth of Aspergillus niger. The addition of AgNP to cornstarch bioplastics can increase the degradation capabilities and antibacterial activity of bioplastics.

Design and synthesis of Ag NPs/Cellulose nanofiber-starch nano-bio composites for packaging applications

Addressing problems due to conventional plastics requires a comprehensive approach involving waste reduction, improved waste management practices, and the development of sustainable alternatives to conventional plastics. In this study, a system was designed that can decorate cellulose nanofiber with silver nanoparticles (AgNP) and then used as a reinforcing agent in thermoplastic starch matrix. The composites were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and transport properties. The morphology and chemical modification of cellulose nanomaterials with silver nanoparticles were confirmed by FESEM, TEM and FTIR and the results indicated proper adhesion of silver nanoparticles in cellulose nanofiber. The addition of AgNP decorated cellulose nanofiber on thermoplastic starch matrix could effectively reduce cracks and pores and improves the overall performance of nanocomposite films. The unique properties of starch nanoparticles make them a promising candidate for diverse applications, showcasing their potential as a sustainable and versatile nanomaterial.